93 sho

[tery]

Next problem needs advice...So, it's very cold out, but even when it isn't, like a couple weeks ago. If the car has sat a day or so, I turn the key and get nothing..I can hear the fuel pump start and dash lights etc, but key all the way on to start...silence. Shaking the key in the on/start position, kinda wrangling it seems to have no effete either, but Without fail, if I just keep hitting it, somewhere between ten and 20 turns, the starter fires up and she starts up as normal. New battery two weeks ago and seemingly not other electrical problems...Does it sound like a started solenoid to you. I peeled back a bit on both cables at the battery and there is not a bunch of corrosion which I have seen stop a car from getting volts to the starter. Just wondering if anyone has had this experience and what they tried.
Thanks in advance,
Terry

 

[rubydist]

Two very common failures on these cars are the starter motor and the starter solenoid. The oil cooler (behind the oil filter) tends to leak between the cooler and block and that hot oil drips down onto the starter causing shorts in the windings. The solenoids similarly often get so that they don't always engage.

Your symptoms could be either, but since you replace them together it doesn't much matter which, I think replacing the starter has a 90% chance of solving your problem. My experience is the ones that last are the NAPA lifetime warranty parts, so I would spend the extra money (and time if they need to order one) to get one of those, since the ones I have gotten from the other parts stores tend to not last.

 

[tery]

Thanks very much Ruby, I just dropped it off to get the serp belt and the rear brakes done and they're going to check the starter. I'm not "extremely" experienced, but that's what I think it is too. Does it make sense that after 20 or 30 hits to the solenoid it heats up just enough to make a little contact, and then she kicks over?? That's what I'm imagining is happening. Cause it will always go if you just keep hitting it, I used to fix my own cars back in the 60-00's, then the back said no more, save for little things. Still get a big kick out of figuring it out though. Replaced the hood supports today and am looking at stereos. The speaker system if JBL, really sounds good, but the deck is..cassettes, as you know, so, I need to at least use CD, and these days I can just plug in my phone and playback files or use tune in or pandora radio.
Is the deck out deck in work to terribly involved? It doesn't look like it from what I've seen online, Just get the right connectors... Thanks for your replies.
Terry
Terry