Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » starter problem?? (Turn key and just get a click noise)
| starter problem?? [message #254125] |
Wed, 02 July 2014 12:55  |
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Hopefully this is an easy one for you guys!
When I go to start the GMC I just get a clicking noise and the engine does not turn over, after multiple tries it will turn over and start right up.
So, is this the starter starting to go?
The battery is charged up and when it does engage the starter it turns over quickly just like normal. The connections are tight and clean but I will go back and clean them again just to see. I haven't had any problem until going out to start it the other day so not sure why it would have this problem all of a sudden.
If you have any suggestions of things to check or do that would be great.
Then if it is the starter is it better to get it rebuilt or replace with a new/rebuilt on from auto parts store?
Thanks,
Bob & Terry Stockholm
Xenia, OH
1976 PB
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| Re: [GMCnet] starter problem?? [message #254130 is a reply to message #254125] |
Wed, 02 July 2014 13:11  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Bob,
I haven't been into a starter in a LONG time, but what your problem sounds
to me like is a well-worn solenoid switch. If you remove and disassemble
the solenoid -- just a couple of bolts -- you should find attached to the
plunger a copper disc. When the solenoid's energized, that disc is pulled
into contact with the "heads" of the two 5/16" (or maybe 3/8") primary lead
bolts. Over time, the making and breaking of 300A or so current leaves
those contact areas severely eroded. All you should have to do is remove
the bolts and rotate them so that new areas of the heads are in the contact
position. Then turn the disc over on the plunger. In effect, you now have
a new solenoid to reassemble & install.
Or maybe you did like I did a month or so ago: Saw a RockAuto special on
new solenoids for $12 or so. It may stay on the shelf for a LONG time, but
I won't even have to disassemble mine if it ever acts like yours. :-)
Ken H.
On Wed, Jul 2, 2014 at 1:55 PM, Bob Stockholm wrote:
> Hopefully this is an easy one for you guys!
>
> When I go to start the GMC I just get a clicking noise and the engine does
> not turn over, after multiple tries it will turn over and start right up.
>
> So, is this the starter starting to go?
>
> The battery is charged up and when it does engage the starter it turns
> over quickly just like normal. The connections are tight and clean but I
> will
> go back and clean them again just to see. I haven't had any problem until
> going out to start it the other day so not sure why it would have this
> problem all of a sudden.
>
> If you have any suggestions of things to check or do that would be great.
>
> Then if it is the starter is it better to get it rebuilt or replace with a
> new/rebuilt on from auto parts store?
>
> Thanks,
> --
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] starter problem?? [message #254131 is a reply to message #254128] |
Wed, 02 July 2014 13:20 |
Rob
Messages: 651
Registered: November 2013
Location: Victoria, BC
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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I'm curious about the outcome - I was helping my sister with her GMC (NOT a GMC MH - a 1990 Pleasureway built on a GMC Vandura with 350 SBC) with the exact same symptoms.
My feeling it was starter or solenoid related - but that's as far as I was planning to take it!
I have a "day" job...
Rob
Victoria, BC
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath
On 2014-07-02, at 11:14 AM, Bob Stockholm wrote:
> thanks Dan!
> --
> Bob & Terry Stockholm
> Xenia, OH
> 1976 PB
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Rob -
Victoria, BC -
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath
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| Re: [GMCnet] starter problem?? [message #254132 is a reply to message #254130] |
Wed, 02 July 2014 13:37 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I was going to suggest that same thing but Colonel Ken beat me to it.
Pull the starter (2 bolts and 2 wires). Pull the solenoid (I think it is 2 bolts) and you are looking at the parts. Be careful tightening those electrical contact bolts. They are made out of softer copper or brass.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: starter problem?? [message #254165 is a reply to message #254125] |
Wed, 02 July 2014 18:32 |
rickmike
Messages: 252
Registered: September 2011
Location: United States
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Starter solenoid. Worn contact disk.
Replace the brushes in the starter too while it is out.
Check for play in the drive end bushing, replace if sloppy.
Starter will be like new!
I had this happen last year during my 7000 mile trip to WA state and back.
Only mechanical problem for 7000 miles! Not bad.
Rick M.
1974 26' Canyonlands
aka "The General"
Clinton, TN
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| Re: starter problem?? [message #254231 is a reply to message #254125] |
Thu, 03 July 2014 07:46 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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Bob,
That is exactly the way my starter was behaving when it failed.
I kept telling myself that it was just a bad connection and I would track it down and fix it later. But, one Sunday - 200 miles from home it refused to work at all. I took it down and opened it up and knew it was not going to work again any time soon.
First cheap trick.....
Sometime it doesn't start, get under the hood and touch all the connections. If one is warn, that is probably your bad connection.
If that doesn't work, take down the starter, undo the three fasteners (two stay bolts through the motor body and the connection at the solenoid) , pull the end cover and peer inside. If the brushes are worn to less than 1/16 of the brush holders, get brushes. If any brush holder is touching the commutator, close it back up and get a rebuilt.
As KenH said, the solenoid can be bad too.
You can rebuild a starter yourself, but it pretty much needs an engine lathe to do it. If you go that way, the complete parts kit for a Delco 10MT (what ours are) starter is less than 20$. That does not include a solenoid, but if you open the solenoid, you can clean one contact and turn the other around and turn the disc over and it will be good as new.
As to whether buying a rebuilt is better than having yours rebuilt, toss up - except most parts stores sell rebuilts with a lifetime warranty. That might just be your deal.
Matt
stkhlm wrote on Wed, 02 July 2014 13:55Hopefully this is an easy one for you guys!
When I go to start the GMC I just get a clicking noise and the engine does not turn over, after multiple tries it will turn over and start right up.
So, is this the starter starting to go?
The battery is charged up and when it does engage the starter it turns over quickly just like normal. The connections are tight and clean but I will go back and clean them again just to see. I haven't had any problem until going out to start it the other day so not sure why it would have this problem all of a sudden.
If you have any suggestions of things to check or do that would be great.
Then if it is the starter is it better to get it rebuilt or replace with a new/rebuilt on from auto parts store?
Thanks,
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: starter problem?? [message #254258 is a reply to message #254256] |
Thu, 03 July 2014 09:47 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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A Hamilto wrote on Thu, 03 July 2014 10:40Matt Colie wrote on Thu, 03 July 2014 09:38A Hamilto wrote on Thu, 03 July 2014 10:15Matt Colie wrote on Thu, 03 July 2014 07:46...You can rebuild a starter yourself, but it pretty much needs an engine lathe to do it. ... Not being a smartass, just want to know: What requires a lathe?
No Problem...
To do a good job of smoothing out the commutator, you really do need a lathe. If the brush carriers have not hit the copper bars, you can maybe do a passable job by pull a strip of sand paper over it. That is just not a good bet in my estimation.
Matt Do you use sandpaper when on the lathe, or something else? What grit?
No, I don't. I have a tool bit with no rake (flat tool post) and just cut it smooth and clean the smeared copped off the mica with a knife point. The sandpaper trick is for either a repair of desperation or just a very light clean up. If the brush carries hit the copper, it will need to be turned.
If doing the paper trick, 200~300 will work. Do not use emery paper as the grains are conductive and may lodge in the mica and cause a shorted bar. (Want to guess how I learned that??)
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: starter problem?? Updated [message #254296 is a reply to message #254125] |
Thu, 03 July 2014 17:15 |
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Well the experts were right on the money on my starter problem, it was the solenoid. I took it off like Ken H and Ken B suggested, rotated the contacts, flipped over the copper disk, cleaned everything and put it all back together and it is just like new! Having ramps really makes this an easy job by the way.
This was actually one of the easier fixes when it comes to the GMC!
Thanks for all your suggestions, comments and help with this.
Bob & Terry Stockholm
Xenia, OH
1976 PB
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