Hi,I just replaced the starter motor in my 90 Camaro rs (305 v8) two days ago. Everything was fine until tonight when I turned the engine off in a drive through and then restarted the car and the starter motor just kept running after the car started for about 15 seconds before it finally stopped. Sounds like the solenoid is sticking and didnt fully disengage enough to turn the starter motor off. I turned the engine back off to try and start it again and nothing would happen. No click,no nothing,waited about 20 minutes in the parking lot and turned the key again and it started like normal. Anyone here have this happen before? What would cause the solenoid to stick/not return enough to turn the motor off? I checked to make sure all the bolts were tightened on the solenoid and starter before I installed the new rebuilt unit into the car. This sucks. I just replaced the starter two days ago and everything was fine. The previous rebuilt starter which lasted me about 4 years. These rebuilt Parts just don't seem to hold up very well do they? It's a lifetime warranty part so I just can take it back and they'll give me another one for free. This was the only one they had locally. I'm hoping maybe it was a one-time thing where it got stuck like that. But I'd prefer not to chance it and then have it leave me stranded somewhere

 

Don't know what brand it was, but if it was one of the store brand rebuilds from AutoZone/Advance Auto/etc., yeah those are pretty low quality and have lots of issues. I'd replace it with a new ACDelco or Bosch.

 

It was from O'Reilly Auto Parts. Bought the original rebuilt nearly 20 years ago,lasted over 12 years and I start and stop the car a lot. Replaced it and that one lasted until 2 days ago. It has a lifetime warranty so I can't see blowing $180 on an expensive starter when they will give me another for free. Yeah I understand that there are parts are lower quality, but For Heaven's Sake they should be higher quality than lasting 2 days. After it malfunctioned last night its been starting normal again but now I dont trust it. These rebuilt starters are about $150 now. So they aren't exactly cheap either and that's not including the $40 core. But again I bought mine 20 years when it didn't cost that, most of the parts I have on this car are lifetime warranty parts and have held up fine. I know the starters and alternators are usually the weak points

 

Ditch the Stone Age Delco direct-drive POS altogether - "new" OR "rebuilt" - and get a modern gear-reduction starter. The difference is AMAZING.

 

I agree that it should not die in 2 days. And maybe you got a dud and a replacement unit will be fine, or maybe not.

I have had enough bad quality replacement parts from the store brand rebuilds that I don't value the lifetime warranty anymore. Yes they will replace the part for free, but I don't want to deal with the hassle of the failure, potentially being stranded somewhere and my time to do the job a 2nd/3rd/4th time.

 

Definitely upgrade to the LT1 fbody starter.
Buy once, cry once

 

I had a similar experience with the rebuilt starter on our '92. It would seem to hang for a few seconds after starting the car. It did it from almost the first time starting the car to when the battery died and had to be replaced. When I put the new battery in, the starter spun the engine like it had never spun before, and promptly quit spinning after the car started. Perhaps the battery was weak for some time (years, actually) before it finally completely died.

You might want to load test your battery. Just a thought.

 

👍 I always recommended this, or ~88 Vette starter since they fit T5 and T56 bellhousings and work great. Smaller, lighter stronger.

 

I literally took mine from a junk LT1 station wagon. A million times better than the 10 or so starters that were "factory"

 

I always get the OG one rebuilt.

 

That is a bomber starter.

He OP...based on your user name, you might like these vids...

 

Didn't know this. Checking whats available at Rock Auto, rebuilts are more expensive than new. Whats going on there?

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ter+motor,4152

 

Some of those new ones might be Chinese garbage. China has been flooding our car parts market for years now. I bought a gear reduction unit from a popular online dealer years ago. Still running great on my 1985 today, but I bought another for the 1987 a year later and production had shifted to China by then and the second one crapped out in months. The warranty replacement lasted maybe a year before crapping out.

I have had good luck with NEW Autozone and Oreillys starters. Won't touch a reman anymore.

 

I wonder if they're trying to cover their AZ tax bill.