Starter solenoid..Clicking when trying to start

[goodoleboy]

Ok, I have A 89 chevy 2500 with 350 w/auto.
Well when trying to start I get a clicking noise then it startsIt took about 5 trys to start before now after installing again it still clicks but after maybe 1 attempt..I had the battery tested under load All ok. So i was told it was the solenoid.

I still get the clicking but not as much as before. Is it possible that the solenoid could still be bad even after testing? I made sure all the connection were tight after the install..

 

[mechtech]

Even if the battery is good, and the starter/solenoid OK, you have to clean and tighten all the grounds and positive cables and ends.
Betcha this fixes her right up.

 

[Ugly3]

quote:

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Originally posted by mechtech:
Even if the battery is good, and the starter/solenoid OK, you have to clean and tighten all the grounds and positive cables and ends.
Betcha this fixes her right up.

---

Had that exact problem with a 1995 Buick 3100 V6. Ground attachment to the engine was "broken", removed, reattached the wires, all was fine.

 

[97f150]

quote:

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Originally posted by Ugly3:

quote:

---

Originally posted by mechtech:
Even if the battery is good, and the starter/solenoid OK, you have to clean and tighten all the grounds and positive cables and ends.
Betcha this fixes her right up.

---

Had that exact problem with a 1995 Buick 3100 V6. Ground attachment to the engine was "broken", removed, reattached the wires, all was fine.

---

I had the exact same problem with a Cutlass Ciera. My battery wouldnt charge, and after numerous attempts to test the alt. I finally replaced it. After that it would click like that after I used it a while and my battery was getting low. Kept me and a few other people baffled for almost a year. One day while I was changing my oil and waiting for it to drain, I got to looking around under there, and saw a wire that was hanging and I started investigating further and than I saw that it bolted to the block. I cleaned the connection and reconnected and ran the car with no problems for another year before I was rear ended by an 18 wheeler.

 

[frankiee]

I am assuming that you put a new solenoid on.
Therefore I think the original problem still persists.
Volt drop the cables. Especially the positive from batt. to solenoid.
The bottom connector has given me problems before. (They look good but are burnt and corroded inside.
Often I find a bad connection by shorting out coil wire so it wont start and cranking it over.
Then feeling the wires carefully for a hot or warm spot. The bad connection will heat up due to the resistance it makes.

 

[goodoleboy]

I kept the same solenoid on the starter since it has tested ok. Ill check some grounds and wires as you suggested.

thanks

 

[White 03]

My vote would be the solenoid. It got better after you worked on it. Remember the Ford solenoids that would work after getting thumped?

Good luck.

 

[theguru]

How about the starter itself. Mine had a rotor connection go bad. No start and click, click. Other times no problems. Depended on where the rotor stopped.

 

[frankiee]

I would replace the solenoid.
My family has had GMs for years and that is one silly place to put an eletrical device. Here in Ontario where they put salt on the roads anyhow.
My father was at my place just this weekend with a starting problem and I just 180 ed the solenoid hagh amperage connection. Works great now. That is likely 25 solenoids I worked on in my life. I'm only 41.
When my dad brought it up, it worked great and passed every test I put on it. (Things work that way according to the law of Murrphy)
I 180 ed the contact surface and now no problem.
We are going out to buy another solenoid because we make sure to keep them in stock because as long as my family has GM's then we will need it sooner or later.
If you dont want to do trial and error way then do a volt drop test accross the solenoid when it is acting up. I think it should not be more then .2 volts as far as I can remember.
I'm happy at anything less then a volt. But I'm not too particular as I should be.

 

[1 FMF]

hit it with a hammer.

if that doesn't work, hammer harder and use swear words