I'm on my fourth starter this summer... now it's going bad too.

Am I just buying pieces of junk or could there be a reason I'm blowing all these solenoids?

So far their all under warranty so I've only paid for one. But I'm tired of the issue. I'm ready to return what I bought and buy a brand new starter... I've been using rebuilts, but this one actually looked like a brand new solenoid.

Thoughts?

Bill

Is your truck hard to start? Extended cranking times? Do you start several times a day? Is there oil or any other fluid leaking on the starter? Is it always the solenoid that goes bad? Do you have the rear mounting bracket in place?

Jumper a wire from the solnoid start post to 12volts and see if solnoid engages,

There a a real flacky problem on gm wiring 94 some 95, rare problem,

fixed my friends 94...

bad ground

Not a hard start. Starts right up... when the solenoid engages. All of the starters that I've replaced this summer have been clean, no signs of anything leaking on them.

The problem is intermittent. On the other starters it was when it was hot. But with this one it sat overnight and wouldn't start. I keep a big screwdriver handy to jump the solenoid when I need to. It's always the solenoid that's going.

I'm wondering about the grounding that was mentioned. I assume the solenoid is grounded to the starter which in turn is bolted/grounded to the engine. Is there something I'm missing with that?

I've cleaned and re-attached all battery cables/grounds. Even the store mechanic agreed the cables were OK. I mean it could be that these starters aren't good, but...

Thanks for your continued help.

Bill

A bad cable, I know you said their OK but, will cause a voltage drop and high restrinance. I would jump out there and replace the battery cables with new and much, much better ones. Also you didn't say if the forward bracket was in use, if not you need that to be attached. Also just so we can say we asked, you are using the gear reduction starter and not the direct drive type, right?

Voltage across all cables was checked and I did replace one cable (although even voltage across that one was OK, I didn't like it's condition.)

Forward bracket is in use, but I'm not sure what affect this would have on the solenoid.

I don't know if I have a direct drive or gear reduction starter. How can I tell the difference? I picked up these starters at Pep Boys and they only had a brown box.

I take it there's nothing else in the system that can cause some kind of break in the signal to the starter solenoid?

Thanks,
Bill

What's the recommended CCA's you guys would say for the 6.5L ?

Someone listened to my starter and said it cranks too slowly and said that indicates not enough power to the starter and hence extra strain on the solenoid. Might be why I'm blowing solenoids even though my cables appear good.

Thoughts?

850-1100

Ok, have had some of the same problems with starters, was told I should switch to a (OK, not sure if I shoud say this) Ford type solenoid mounted somewhere easy to get too. something about the chevy solenoids not very good. I haven't switched it yet but will.. I had the elec, shop that rebuilds starters and alts. tell me this and a friend told me I should do it..

I will repeat: There is a problem on some 94-95 trucks which affects the starter solenoid, low voltage to solenoid, tries to close, but not all the way...

Thisi problem is rare, but if you havr this conddition you will replace a lot of starters to no avail. I know of 2 cases and have heard of a few more in Maine.

My friend in Maine added a jumper wire from the solenoid to a switch ( momentary )
to 12V at the battery, It fixed his problem...

May try it for a test...

Hey I like that momentary switch idea. Not sure what the rating of that switch would have to be... any idea?

On the flip side... I had two 770 CCA batteries in the truck. Only 1 year old batteries. I took them in to be tested. One tested at 700 CCA's (which means it passed) the other at 530 CCA's (which means it failed). I searched for the highest CCA batteries I could find. Ended up at Sears with 875 CCA Die Hards @ $90 each with 3 year replacement.

We'll see how that goes. Even if it does present the same problem now I feel duty bound to try one more starter because I may have already destroyed the solenoid.... But for the 1st 24 hours I haven't had an issue.

Bill