Bad Starter

[Large Arbor]

Well after a day and 1/2 of screwing with it, my technical more skilled older brother came over and I pulled the starter again and out of the car it would engage, but would only once in the car. So we pulled the cover / cap off of the solenoid on the starter and noticed when taking apart a loose screw on the solenoid cap. We pulled it apart and could see where it was arcing to the case. After cleaning / filing some contacts on the solenoid, we tested it and it worked outside the car. We put it back in the car and it worked. Has started several times. I let it warm up and tried it and it worked fine. I think for safety reasons I will buy a backup and put it in the trunk. At least I know what the problem is now.

[patrickt]

Well, that's good. Speaking of grounds, there's one on ERA cars that, unless someone told you where it was, you'd never find it. It's on the front, driver's side of the X-member. It's not on the engine side of that round piece, so it's kind of hard to see. A lot of the electrical components (fans, horns, head lights) get their ground feed from that connection, so it pays to check that. The other ground source is to the firewall right behind the passenger side cylinder head. That one's easy to see. The rear ground feed is easy to see, too. It's in the trunk, driver's side, where the quickjack/bumper bracket is bolted down. It wouldn't hurt to just find them and snug them all up.

[Large Arbor]

Thanks Pat, will look for them all. While working on the starter, I found a steering hold down nut off where it goes through the foot box. I got that back on and tight.

Phil

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by Large Arbor

Well after a day and 1/2 of screwing with it, my technical more skilled older brother came over and I pulled the starter again and out of the car it would engage, but would only once in the car. So we pulled the cover / cap off of the solenoid on the starter and noticed when taking apart a loose screw on the solenoid cap. We pulled it apart and could see where it was arcing to the case. After cleaning / filing some contacts on the solenoid, we tested it and it worked outside the car. We put it back in the car and it worked. Has started several times. I let it warm up and tried it and it worked fine. I think for safety reasons I will buy a backup and put it in the trunk. At least I know what the problem is now.

You might want to install the new one and put the old one as a spare in the trunk.