Ive been having this problem for a while. I turn the key and all I get is a click. The starter wont turn over. Then i have to sit there and keep trying until eventally it will crank over. Ive replaced about 5 starters, Ive tried a different key, and Ive replaced the starter switch. Im completly dumbfounded. I did some research about the VATS and thought mabey it had something to do with that so i bought some resistors to solder in there only to find someone else has. (There is a resistore soldered between a purple and white wire). If you need any more info to help me out just let me know i will get it for you. I need help bad so any will be greatly appreciated. Thanks alot.

DEREK

 

is it the starter solenoid that you hear the click from? does it just click once each time you turn the key?
with the head lights turned on, what do they do when you turn the key to the start position?

things to check,...
the battery itself, is it charged up, does it load test good?
the bulk head connector where the harness enters the inside of the car.
both battery cables, are they clean & tight at both ends?
do the cables have a good connection to the battery clamps & to the eyes where they bolt to the starter & motor?
do you have a good battery to body ground?
do you have a good motor to body ground?
are the fuse links all in good condition?

 

Yes the click is coming from the solinoid. When i check for voltage i get 12 volts at only one terminal on the solinoid when its trying to start and i get 12 volts at both terminals when it finally does turn over. Just thought i would throw that in there because i forgot to mention that last night. I will check all the stuff you recomended. Thanks alot.

 

Does it happen only after it's been run? If so you might be experiencing heat soak. It's a real issue because many chain store replacements are using low quality imported rebuild parts. The solenoid binds when the starter gets hot and prevents good contact to the motor. If you get 12 volts on one side of the heavy wire to the solenoid and nothing on the strap to the motor it's the starter. At that point get an AC Delco reman. My neighbor went through 3 chain store units in his vette till he finally listened. Otherwise the previous troubleshooting mentioned applys.

 

Same thing just started happening on my '91 recently. It starts fine when warm but when cold, the starter solenoid will click but engine won't turn over. It also used to happen on my '91 Suburban. No big deal to fix it.

This is a problem in the solenoid, definitely. It can be either replaced or rebuilt. These solenoids supply a lot of amps from the battery to the starter. These amps make burn marks on the solenoid contacts. And the burns prevent good contact for further starts. So cleaning/sanding the contacts in the solenoid will help. Do not use any grease in there!

Hope this helps.
Lou

 

BigBabyLou, thats exactly what mine does. Starts fine when warm but when cold it will just click. Well i just got a new Positive cable so im gonna replace that this weekend and if it still acts up then i will get a AC delco starter and try that. Thanks for all the help everyone. Mabey i will figure this out after all.

 

i had the same probelm with my 1990 RS (305tbi). i had that car when i was in high school. i would park it in the parking lot in the morning, and after school i would try to start it, sometimes i got a click, sometimes i didnt. and thats with the car sitting for 7 hours in a parking lot! i thought i was the only one with that problem. after about 30-45min(or sometimes longer) it would just magically start up. very strange.