Hi there,

the other day i tried to start my 1969 Cutlass after about a six week break, but as I turn the key, I hear the relay clicking, but no starter turn. So I try several times, but nothing. So I crawled under the car and hammered the starter with a hammer. I didn't get a good grip, since the exhaust pipe is in the way. Dash light are bright, headlights are bright, too, just no starter turn after hammering.

Where to start, what to do?

Tom

 

Do a voltage drop on the positive and negative cables. You could have enough resistance to cause a no crank. Most likely causes are a bad connection at the solenoid or battery. If the voltage drop is within limits (less than .5V) then a bad starter.

 

Or it could be a bad solenoid.

 

That is correct. I just don't replace the solenoid alone anymore. I replace them together as an assembly.

 

Check the battery cables for corrosion, the negative ground wire to the core support, the ground straps from the firewall to engine, and the positive battery cable for corrosion.
I never just throw parts at a problem - check for cause!

 

If I ever have to drop the (seemingly) 500 lb GM starter, I always replace the solenoid, brushes, and Bendix drive. I don't want to have to wrestle with that starter any more times than I absolutely have to.

 

Get a bigger hammer!

 

I jacked the car, crawled under and hammered the starter with a big hammer. But no luck. After hammering for a while I thought I should try from the side. So I took the hammer in the left hand, held it between exhaust pipe and frame, no chance for swinging, so I move my hand with the hammer sideways, and I hit the starter rather soft, but the starter cranked up right away. Since then I started it for like 30 times, no problem at all. Should I do something about it?

Regards,

Tom

 

It will most likely not start again. bets are your starter is failing.

 

Could be a stuck solenoid or starter drive.
Happens when cars sit for a while.
Get another starter and tools, and keep them in the trunk!

 

It'll get you sooner or later, but you may be good for a while.

Probably the solenoid, but hard to tell without taking it apart.
Could be brushes, too, among other things.
You can clean the solenoid up and it should be good for lots more miles, in most cases, and brushes are not a great big deal either.

At least now you know where to hit it .

- Eric

 

Beem there, done that, got the T-shirt. Sooner or later you'll wish you had replaced them.

 

The type of problem you experienced is usually due to a bad spot on the starter motor commutator which is part of the armature and where the brushes make contact. The spot will get glazed or dirt on it or in some cases just lose electrical contact. When you last used the starter, it was just luck that this bad spot ended up in contact with a brush. When you hit it with the hammer, you either knocked some of the contaminants off of this contact or made the starter motor move just enough to pick up another contact point. This is a problem that won't fix itself and it's just a matter of probability when it will happen again. The best plan is to replace/rebuild the starter and replace the solenoid at the same time as was previously mentioned.

 

Hey,
thank you for all the comments, so I hope to make it through the summer. In winter, which lasts for five months, there should be enough time to make a decent job. Maybe I'll ask more questions during work.

Thank all of you for your help, I always appreciate.

Tom