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Weird starting problem

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Old May 10, 2005 | 10:02 PM
  #1  
Zrated83's Avatar
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From: Buckley AFB, CO / Crestview, FL
Car: 83 Z-28
Engine: LG4
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 02 WS6 Rear w/3:42
Weird starting problem

Hey guys, last Saturday my car wouldnt start for a couple minutes. I went to the post office to mail something and came right back out. I went to start the car up but nothing happened. The starter didnt engage and the engine didn't turn over, nothing. The battery was charged since my lights still worked and stuff. So after about 3 trys it starts up again like nothing ever happened. Well today the same thing happened. I went to the gas station and my car wouldnt start up again for like 15 minutes. Any ideas as to what is wrong here?
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Old May 10, 2005 | 10:06 PM
  #2  
HalfInchWrench's Avatar
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From: Ajax, ON
Car: 85Z28 87GTA 91GTA 98SS
Engine: SBC, LS-x
Transmission: T-5, 700-R4, T-56
Any sound from the starter at all when you try to crank the engine?

Selonoid on the starter. Mine did that for ages before it failed completely. Luckily it failed right in the driveway.
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Old May 10, 2005 | 10:30 PM
  #3  
Zrated83's Avatar
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From: Buckley AFB, CO / Crestview, FL
Car: 83 Z-28
Engine: LG4
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 02 WS6 Rear w/3:42
No sound at all from the starter or anything else. Yeah I definetly want to fix the problem so I dont get stranded somewhere.
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Old May 10, 2005 | 10:47 PM
  #4  
HalfInchWrench's Avatar
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From: Ajax, ON
Car: 85Z28 87GTA 91GTA 98SS
Engine: SBC, LS-x
Transmission: T-5, 700-R4, T-56
Check the terminals on the starter first to make sure they are clean and tight.

In all likelyhood it is the starter. You can replace the whole thing or just the selonoid.
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Old May 10, 2005 | 11:56 PM
  #5  
ME Leigh's Avatar
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Valley of the Sun
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: Al LT1 headed LG4 305
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73 posi with spacer
You could try replacing the cables with larger new gauge and really cleaning all the connections. Also make sure you have a nice large ground wire directly from the battery to the engine block.

It sounds like your starter is getting heat soaked and requiring lots of power which your cables can't supply. If nothing works, new mini-starter is the answer.
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Old May 11, 2005 | 10:02 PM
  #6  
Flash84Z28's Avatar
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From: St.Charles, MO/ Edwardsville, IL
Car: '03 S-10/ '87 Trans Am
Engine: mild 350
Transmission: TH350
Sounds like heat soak. After I installed my headers I had the same problem. I got a remote solenoid and kept my stock starter and have had no problems since. Summit has a kit for $25.

Matt
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Old May 11, 2005 | 11:21 PM
  #7  
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From: Buckley AFB, CO / Crestview, FL
Car: 83 Z-28
Engine: LG4
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 02 WS6 Rear w/3:42
Thanks for all the help guys. Is this the kit you got from summit Matt? link
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Old May 12, 2005 | 02:29 AM
  #8  
Flash84Z28's Avatar
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From: St.Charles, MO/ Edwardsville, IL
Car: '03 S-10/ '87 Trans Am
Engine: mild 350
Transmission: TH350
Yep, that's it. I worked at a mobile electronics shop and used a solenoid we use to isolate second batteries and I used 3M terminals. Those plastic terminals always break and fall apart.
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