Hey all,

My Z has had this issue that I have been trying to isolate. First I will explain what it does: I will go and try to start it and turn the key and get nothing from the starter only. Lights, accessories, etc work. There is no click or anything just silence. Sometimes I get lucky and turn the key a couple of times and she will start instantly.
-Other times, I have to put the Z in first gear and let her roll a couple of inches and drop the clutch. This, I think, moves the stuck starter gear into a place that it "likes", and it will then start or the gear is just stuck out. It is always the same, she wont start , I roll it, drop clutch , turn key and she fires right up.
Now, you are all thinking STARTER, right? Must be a bad spot on the starter. Now, my auto parts dealer brought the starter to the guy he buys them from to do a bench test and the guy said the starter if FINE. Is he wrong or is it something else?
The starter is a "U.S.A." brand remanufactured. Are they just junk??

I forgot to mention that I am on my 2nd or 3rd USA brand starter. Who makes the o.e. starter? Anyone have a part number?


Thanks for the help.

 

If it's not the starter, then are you positive the battery is good? What battery voltage do you get while attempting to crank the engine?

 

The batt. is fine; I am getting power to the starter when I have the problem of not starting. I tested it yesterday. But, right after I tested it to see power at the starter, I jumped the starter directly to the battery and it turned right over. So, I am thinking that there is some kind of amperage loss between the battery and the starter. Maybe some kind of resistor or something. Its so weird.
-When I saw power at the batt, I was like wheew! its the STARTER. But, then I jump it and it fires right up..?? Something is weird here. - keep in mind that trick I do to get it started. ( the roll and drop)

 

Sounds like a bad starter solenoid. If the contacts in the solenoid are becoming resistive, you would still see voltage at the starter but you won't get enough current through the solenoid to turn the starter.

 

You may want to do a voltage drop test also on the battery to starter wire. The large power wire. To do this you set your meter to volts DC connect one lead to the battery pos and the other to the starter and crank the engine. you should see very little if any voltage. If you do the repace the wire if not i would also check grounds

 

DEFINATELY check the grounds

 

Is your Security light on? It's common for the security contacts to your ignition key to become intermittent and cause the car not to start. Shoebox has a good write-up here: http://shbox.com/1/pass_key.html

 

Problem found! Its the starter.

I went out and started the car and heard a high pitched whine. It was the starter being turned over by the engine. I guess it got stuck in the out position or something and just kept spinning. Then I try to shut her down and the starter is still going with the key out! I had to pull my battery cable to get it to shut off.

GD stupid F'n starter. Bad solenoid on these things. STAY AWAY from USA brand remanufactured starters. They are junk!!

My local GM has a new starter for $351 and if they install it, lifetime warranty parts and labor. o well, now I get to drop hundreds for a starter.


Thanks for the advice guys.

 

Get a GM starter from Dal, Jason Cromer, Team Chevrolet or one of the other discount GM part suppliers.