so a buddy has a starter that is a new one and has worked fine for a while, but recently when you turn the key, it makes a clunk like it tried to engage the flywheel and got jammed up. sometimes after turning the key a couple of times it will engage and work fine. any ideas as to what gives?

 

is it the starter that is clunking or the solenoid. Try jumping the starter...if it turns fine and starts to crank...then you might want to check up the line towards ignition switch or key solenoids...

 

My starter used to just "click" if I turned the key, if I kept turning the key or held it in place it would finally start cranking. I believe it was the starter solenoid, which is on the starter itself. I just bought and LT4 starter and that fixed it.

 

the starter is less than a year old i think so he said, surely its not the solenoid already. unless its a cheap one i suppose. whats the deal with the lt4 starter? (advantages)

 

i'm havin the same problem. The starter has more life on the car then in use. I jumped the starter and i got the clickinhg and cranking noise, but when i turn the key, no clicking. I know the battery is fine.

When else could the problem lie. I know there are solenoids and switches but what is the change one of the switches or solenoids to go bad.

How to check the solenoid while the starter is in the car. Last couple time i messed with it i could never get the shimming correct.

 

Trust me, a solenoid failure is not unusual on a rebuilt starter.

The original starter that came with the car lasted 7 or 8 years, right? So that replacement starter can't be bad after only 1 year, right? Wrong, happens all the time.

"Rrebuilt" starters are rarely rebuilt anymore, they are disassembled and parts that look worn are replaced..."repaired" would be a more accurate description. Only buy rebuilt starters with lifetime warranties...they still fail, but replacing them isn't as painful if you don't have to shell out another $150 to do it.

Based on what you are discribing, you either have a poor cable connection, a starter solenoid issue, a bad battery, or a faulty keyswitch (it's not your keyswitch).

Double check you cable connections to be clean and tight. If all appears well there, 97% chance it's your starter.

If you want to be 100% sure, get a buddy and a volt meter, and I can walk you through all the volt drop tests to prove which component is faulty. - JM.

 

well fresh battery and new starter and still nothing. i don't get a cranking noise. I'm not getting power to the starter when i turn the key. When the key is turned there is no juice. I used a current light to check