Ok so since I took my car out of storage this april I have not driven it much, only about once per week. The last 2-3 weeks when I went to start it it did this weird thing. When I turn the key to crank it I hear these weird kind of like electrical shocks under the hood :S meanwhile the car is not cranking, but after a few seconds of this it then starts to crank and starts up normally and drives just fine. Now the starter crapped out last year and it looks like it's going out again?? Unless it could be something else? I replaced it with a stock LT1 starter.

One thing I was thinking is it could just be a loose starter wire which explains the weird *clicking* like noises, but then once the electrical contact is made it starts up normally, could it be? I could have sworn I tightenned them up pretty good though when I changed the starter last year It's outside now but when I get it back in I will check that.

Do you guys think it coud be anything else or did I just answer my own question?

 

A bad starter solenoid would make that clicking sound as well

 

If the solenoid is bad does that mean I have to replace the starter again?!

 

Not sure on these LT1 Starters but you should be able to just get the sylnoid. Check with your parts store and see if you can just get that.

Good luck

 

Sounds like the battery is weak or maybe the cables connection needs to be cleaned.

Hal

 

No the battery is good I just changed it the year before last, and contrary to when the battery was causing my starting problems 2 years ago (it was getting drained by the glove box light LOL), now I always have full power to all my accessories even before starting the car, I'm pretty sure the battery is not an issue.

 

Well if it's clicking that's an indication of low power and either the battery cables or the battery. Test the voltage on the batter (should be around 12.5 when cranking but not below 11).

Hal

 

Ok I just went to try and start it to take it in the garage and now it just won't start period. I get just the clicking noises and the dash/lights just flicker...

What should I do next the car is parked a few blocks away.

 

Charge the battery already. geesh. I don't care if it's new, it doesn't have enough power to turn the engine over, PERIOD. Your alarm will drain the battery constantly and if you don't drive it often the battery will get weak. Best way to keep a car for a long period without driving is to disconnect the battery and only connect it for driving. Mine does this too.

Hal

 

also for future referance if any of you need to replace your starter use the corvette starter... i just finished rebuilding my engine and when we went to put the starter on we broke it and did some research to find the part we needed to find out these starters are only good for 2-3 years and the corvette version of the lt1/lt4 starter lasts forever and weighs alot less and is smaller.... so we plopped one of those on and brough our starter back to pep boys as a core (they dont know the difference) and it works perfectly... and yeah what they said about the battery makes since too.. just some info for you all.

 

Well I've never heard of a big issue about the regular starter but if it's small and better I'll go with it if I even need one, thanks! I wonder if their window motors are better too

Hal

 

Ok so you were right

I got a boost and the car started right away... so does this mean when my car is parked for a week or ten days at a time I should keep the trickle charger on it?? That seems a bit excessive to me. Could there be an underlying problem?

It was probably a combination of me only starting it once a week, sometimes not even driving it and just letting it idle a few minutes in the garage, which doesn't help the battery either, and me having left it outside this past week (it was really cold out)