Starter question

[jiangtao]

I have been having hard starts {like alot of people} and I don't think it is my injectors or regulator. They checked out OK. I was wondering if a starter is suffering from the heat would it still turn over? I have noticed that when I turn the key on I don't hear a "click". It took three times of on and off before I heard one the other day. It is not only happening after it has set, but now also on cold starts. When it finally starts it is at really low idle and works it's way on up. Thanks in advance. Oh, early '86.

 

[geekinavette]

With those symptoms I would really closely inspect all of the battery/starter/alternator cabling and connections....and I mean CLOSELY inspect them. Connection problems aren't always that obvious at a glance.

Bill

 

[Edmond]

Is the starter the original that came with the car? Most auto stores will test the starter for free. It'll probably take you 5 minutes to take the starter off, not much work involved.

 

[jiangtao]

Don't know if it's the original starter or not. I suspect that it might be. I could be wrong though. I have always wondered how much of a pain it is to replace it?

 

[Edmond]

Don't know if it's the original starter or not. I suspect that it might be. I could be wrong though. I have always wondered how much of a pain it is to replace it?

There are only two bolts holding the starter to the flywheel and two or three (I forgot) electrical connections. It really is that easy. The only thing you may have difficulty is getting underneath the car since clearance isn't great.

 

[max]

Well , my starter just almost caused me a heart attack the other day . I did some spins , to check the traction , and temperature went almost to 220 F . It was really hot under the hood , then I stoped the engine to inspect the tyre damage , and could not start the car after. no cranking . At first I thought that because of heat up and spins pistons got stuck . I am a not that long a vette owner . later ofcourse , when I checked everything , oil level , fans relays , fans themselves , coolant level , spoke to some vette owners about vettes I understood that it is not the engine . It was starter . how did I find that ? The same thing happened again as it heats up onna hot day inna traffic with some smokey starts , I took a wrench and knocked on a starter moderately . I guess because of accumulated dirt , dust, oil , whatever can get there , and because of age probaly too , it got stuck . after knockin it started from a half turn . I guess , if you clean it up , change those bearings ,it will work again for the long time . Also I think some heat shield would be good .

 

[geekinavette]

220 is no big deal...but it does sound like a sticking starter solenoid. Not that expensive or difficult to replace the starter.

Bill

 

[jiangtao]

I have never bothered looking at the starter from underneath, but can you add one of those heat shields without taking the starter off? I am going to change it definately, but was just curious about it. I was told some time ago you have to take the starter off.

 

[max]

I was just looking at the starter heat shield on a C3 the other day . it was definately aftermarket shield . And I guess I remember it correctly , it used starter mounts to hold it in place . I think there sure are shields for C4 too.
Although , I think , I'll use just a thick aluminium paper and some synthetic cotton , kinda they use for thermoisolation in construction . Works fine .