I have a 1991 z-28; 350. Brand New starter (3rd one). Car will start when "cold." After driving it a while and shutting it off and trying to start it again, it will, "click, click, click, then nothing when I turn the key over. Sometimes it won't click at all, just silence. Battery is brand new. Alterator is fine. When underneath the car, started it using a screwdriver...fired up fine. It is a hit and miss thing that is very irritating; I am tired of getting stranded. By the way, it usually starts up after thirty minutes. Looking for help please. Thank you.

 

That's the Third Gen curse. Use a remote solenoid (like the F**ds)
They are like $20 from summit. Heat kills the solenoid.

 

using rebuilt starters doesn't help the problem any either, but most people don't want to pay for a new starter.

 

I have seen this post time and time again. Remanufactured starters especially from chain stores are using many imported components for repair. Simply put, they are junk! Unless you have headers that are subjecting the starter to undue high heat there is no reason for the problem you describe. Ede is right on, get an AC Delco reman or new unit-there is a difference in quality. My neighbor went through 3 chain store units on his vette before he finally listened. Got one from the dealer and has never had a problem since. If you want to use the cheap stuff, go to Whitney and get a heat shield-they run about $20.

 

I forgot to add that I checked the voltage at the main connection on the solenoid with a light it fully lit up. I checked it on the smaller connection on the solenoid and it lit up, but it was not as bright as the other main connection. Does this mean anything? Thanks.

 

I have the exact same problem with my 1989 Camaro RS. It's
even driving the dealership nuts. I recently replaced the starter.
I got it from them and assumed it's a Delco starter. They have it right now trying to figure it out.

 

Replace the starter and add a heat shield.

 

I have he same problem on my '92 RS. I believe it to be that starter. I am on my third reman starter and it still has the same problem. It has never left me straned, just sometimes takes about 7 or 8 tries before it turns over. On of these days I will get annoyed enough to get a new AC-Delco starter.

 

Just a little more advice with this problem guys. Check the key to make sure it's dry, and that there is no crap on it. I read the owners manual for my 89 RS and it indicated that.

 

I just replaced a bad "new" battery; I assumed that the battery that I got from Sears (Die Hard) was in good condition. I took it back there and they said it was bad and I got a new one for free. I took it home, hooked it up, checked and cleaned the neg. ground and the car fired up. Who knows? I am sure that in a few days I will have trouble with it again. See ya'll soon.

 

It could be worse. My stock starter started that same ****, so I thought I'd outsmart it and replace it with a mini starter. Bad plan. I put in a Powermaster mini starter, and all was good for about 2 weeks, no more hot start problems at all. Well I'm going to work when the starter solenoid shorts out and grounds the positive side of my battery causing complete car shutdown (at 55MPH no less). Welll I get the car home, and get the starter out and it won't even attempt to kick out the bendix at all so I get a new one. Well one week after that, I get into town and shut the car off at the store, come back out and all I get is a click click click. Well my car is an automatic so a push start is out of the question. When I got the car home, I called Summit, told them I was sending the second one back, and got me a Summit Nippondenso style one and thus far (knock on wood) I've had no problems. Three starters, three weeks. I am damn good at changing that thing now. I did check all the connections for problems, from the ignition switch to the starter and from the starter to the battery, all perfect. I'm beginning to think that GM really screwed the pooch on their design of the exhaust in these cars.

 

So many 350 fbodies have the same exact problem. Especially if you have the dual cat option. The heat fromt he exhaust kills the starter selenoid esp. with headers. The best way to keep it from happening is to get a heat sheild for your starter or get a mini starter. Fixed my problem. My headers were roasting mine. lol I haven't had any problems with my mini starter. They make heat sheilds for those too btw. I did have to modify the bracket on it so it would clear the headers though. Its one of those adjustable mounts. Bought it for $130. Better gear ration in mini starters to. 4 to 1 instead of 3 to 1.

 

I too had to modify the mounting block on my Summit one just a touch for oil pan clearance and I had to clock it one position for clearance. A small price to pay for reliable starts. As for the heat shield, I got a factory one out af a Toyota pickup for my Nippondenso mini starter. Toyota has been using Nippondenso starters and alternators for as far back as I have ever worked on (I was a mechanic in a salvage yard for 7 years). It's far better than any aftermarket one I've seen, because it is specifically made for the Nippondenso starter. If you have a Summit mini, check the import yards for a shield.

 

Whenever I read anything that mentions a starter on any 3rd generation F-body. I have to laugh.

The first 3rd gen. f-body we had was a '92 RS Camaro (polo green w/ a 305- very nice car), the starter was shot within a year.

2nd 1985 Firebird 305, we owned for about 3 years starter was shot within 3 months of buying it, and about a year later we got stranded 25 miles from home after we stopped for gas and it died, the 3rd time we replaced the starter was about a year and a half after that, it died in the hospital parking lot after I visited my Grandmother there.

3rd was a 1989 RS with a 2.8, never had a starter problem with that one, lol.

4th was the 1989 IROC I own now, another 305, I bought it in March 2000, in about a month we had to replace the starter....ha ha it has been nearly 4 years and I am beginning to wonder why this starter has not gone yet, probably just jinxed myself by thinking that.

But you get the point, if you are going to own the car for any length of time it would be wise to invest in one of those heat shields or you will wind up replacing your cooked starter annually.

 

I have an 89 350, one and only one starter replaced with an AC Delco unit since it was new. No heat shield, guy's it simply is NOT normal to go through all this nonsense with a starter.

 

I had the stock starter in my iroc go bad, so I replaced it with an lt1 mini starter. Its alot smaller than the old beast, so it doesn't take in as much heat since it sits further from the exhaust. Here are some pics I just took of it. Its a little dirty with water spots but it works perfectly.

http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...280_6_full.jpg
http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...280_7_full.jpg
http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...280_8_full.jpg