Starter heat problem?

[pasvorto1]

I've been reading all the threads about starter heat absorption. My case is slightly different. I'm no wrench, so let me bounce it off y'all.

Got the imposter back from getting the frame straightened (long story). Took it for a drive up the highway at "speed" to test the tracking. Drove about 30 miles at 70+. Tracked nicely. Check one more problem off the list.

Put it in the garage. About 15 minutes later I decided to go for another "test" drive

Turned the key, all the lights came on, no starter noise. Nothing. Nada. Came here and did some reading. I thought, "Ah, starter heat problem." I waited 2 hours and tried again. Same problem.

Then I remembered one post where someone jumped the car and it started. So, I got out my battery charger, hooked it up, and set it to 6 amps. The battery was not drawing anything from it. However, when I turned the key it started right up! I turned it off, disconnected the charger, and tried again. Started right up! Aaarrrggghhh!

I thought I would charge the battery, but it isn't drawing any amperage from the charger (as though it is fully charged).

Any ideas? I certainly don't want to haul my battery charger around with me.

 

[cruzer99]

Get a new starter.

When they get old they get tired and weak and in some cases will have dead spots on the armature. I had the same issue with my 82 CE until I replaced the starter, then no more problems. Also make sure you have the heat shield in place next to the starter.

 

[JonM]

How old is the battery...your local parts store will check out the battery and starter for no charge...Also the test you did...a short cut so you don't have to wait two hours to cool down...just stick a water hose down the side of the block so you can wet down the starter...Also check the wires leading to the solenoid...they are close by the exhaust and become brittle after time then get corroded. Check the battery terminals, make sure they are clean.

 

[kennels]

Made sure there is no corrosion on the battery terminals

 

[pasvorto1]

Well, it did it again. My daughter and her friend took it out for a drive (I wasn't home at the time). They drove around town for a bit and stopped at the local dept store. needless to say, it wouldn't start when they came out. It sat for 2 hours. Still no start. I took the jumper cables down and it fired right up. I suppose I'd better start at the battery and work my way to the starter.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Yep,

Sounds like a connection problem at the battery terminals.
Clean then up with a file real good and then try it. Make sure you're home when you shut it off in case you need the charger again.
Good luck
Pete.

 

[SR'71]

Well, it did it again. My daughter and her friend took it out for a drive (I wasn't home at the time). They drove around town for a bit and stopped at the local dept store. needless to say, it wouldn't start when they came out. It sat for 2 hours. Still no start. I took the jumper cables down and it fired right up. I suppose I'd better start at the battery and work my way to the starter.

I agree with all previous suggestions. They are all possibilites. El Cheapo might be poor contact inside the solenoid. GM sols have a big brass ring that provides starter motor current when energized. Its inside the cap where the small wires connect. I've seen the brass corrode and not conduct. Scour the ring and they work fine.

 

[pasvorto1]

Interesting enough... I took the battery terminal conenctions off, scrubbed the battery connections and the cable connections with a wire brush. I put it back together, drove for about 45 minutes with the temp at 200 degrees. I went back home and shut it off. I tried to start it, maybe 15 minutes later, and it fired right up. So, I washed/ waxed it and went for another drive. Got it up to 200 degrees and held it there for half an hour, and went home. Waited 10 minutes. Fired right up. Go figure.

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Fired right up. Go figure.

A new member recently commented that these 'vettes will carry us to our graves...or put us in our graves. :L
You could pull enough hair out of everyone's heads to make the entire planet bald for the amount of times these cars confound us! I'm glad it was an easy fix.
Heidi

 

[cruzer99]

One other thing you might think about doing is to add a ground strap between the frame and the engine. Make sure it is loose enough for the engine torque. I had a similar problem with my 82 CE and that also cured it. These glass cars have a nasty problem of not always having a good ground between the battery and the engine.
Good luck

 

[pasvorto1]

I know what you mean about these things driven us to our graves. Oh well, something has to. Now that it starts again, it's time to replace that right blinker bulb behind the dash. Watch my line captain, I'm going in!