went out to start the car today and the starter just makes a bad noise. Today is the coldest day we've had this year (currently -22c) so I'm thinking the starter is frozen. I replaced the starter last year around this time because the old starter fell apart ( http://members.shaw.ca/nrfarley/pics/FUBAR%20Starter/ ). So I doubt there is actually a problem with the starter. I did notice for the last few days the starter made a short grinding noise when starting the car in the morning but was perfect the rest of the day after the car had warmed up once. It's just the mornings when the car has been sitting for a while that it made noise.

So the car is plugged in right now and I have a heater pointed in the direction of the starter to try and warm it up a bit. But I was wondering, what can I do to prevent this from happening in the future? anyone had a problem like this? I'm thinking I should take the car to my buddies heated agrage and take it off to see if there is moisture or something in it but I don't understand how moisture would have got inside in the first place.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

never got it going. I even hit the starter a few times with a hammer but no luck. The starter makes noise but it doesn't turn the motor over at all. So, I'm thinking I need yet another starter. There better be a warranty on this piece of ****.

 

Are you sure the battery is okay? When the battery is weak all you get is a fast clicking noise. LT1's are hard to turn over with their high compression and such. I've never had a problem with the starter even on the coldest Manitoba mornings. The stock battery is not good for winter.

 

do you guys use your block heaters? would that help any? if it is the starter, perhaps a LT4 starter woudl be in order. did you get a reman starter last winter? could have used weaker parts.

 

I doubt it's a problem with the battery. Voltage seems good, even during cranking and I haven't had a problem with this battery. Last winter I never used my block heater once and the car started first time everytime (accept when it needed the starter). The starter is turning, I can hear it but I don't think the gear is popping out like it's suppose to. The starter on there now is new, they don't accept core charges for these starters. Here's a pic of the new one that's in there now next to the old one I replaced last year: http://members.shaw.ca/nrfarley/pics...r/Image008.jpg

I'm going to push start it tomorrow and drive it to my buddy's heated garage then I'll take off the starter and see what's up. Hopefully get a new starter tomorrow. Better be on warranty! I think I put it in around feb-march.

 

Do you have a stock block heater? It is a pretty rare option.

 

i have no clue why it would do that then. perhaps a faulty solenoid. i dont think it should freeze at all. thats just really odd. good luck, normally that have a one year warranty so hopefully theyll swap it. still got the old one? coudl you swap the solenoid on it? for some reason my solenoid backed out once and that was doing what you mentioned, spinnig but not making contact with the gear.

 

almost all northern f bodies have stock block heaters.

 

Just order a Powermaster starter, PM9500 is the PN I think. It will turn a motor with 18:1 compression and weighs like 9 lbs. Mine made more torque than my dad's Harley.