Not your average starting issues. Help wanted!

[Ft.ValloniaStreaker]

It sounds like a timing issue....but the pedal has nothing to do with it. An easy fix would be to put a switch on your coil wire and get the motor turning full speed then hit the power to the coil. Big blocks are horrible about kicking back that's always my answer. If it's HEI use heavier wire.

[Zeke's Garage]

If it's just that the starter is not engaging, then you can probably get by with just swapping out the solenoid/bendix driver, and make sure you don't need some shimming to make engagement easier. The fact that it seems to fail after some 'heat-up' time makes this sound more like the issue to me.

If you're also having slow cranking after the engine is warm, then that could have to to with too much initial timing as well.. You can try to back it off a bit and see if it gets better.

Also, check ALL your main power connections and cables.. older wiring can oxidize under the insulation and you can't see it.

Good luck with it!

[Cam-Shaft]

Originally Posted by Davidf

Not sure from your description of the problem, but it sounds like the bendix in the starter is binding up. Simple and relative cheap to replace the starter and go from there. In fact, when I purchased my truck back in March, that is the first thing I did when I got it home was replace the starter for good measure. The one that came off seemed to work fine, but I wanted to start (no pun intended) with a known quantity.

I am tempted to do this, new parts never hurt anything but the wallet

Originally Posted by Ft.ValloniaStreaker

It sounds like a timing issue....but the pedal has nothing to do with it. An easy fix would be to put a switch on your coil wire and get the motor turning full speed then hit the power to the coil. Big blocks are horrible about kicking back that's always my answer. If it's HEI use heavier wire.

This is something that I have been suspecting! Great idea with disconnecting the hot wire from the coil, I had not thought to do that and will try it after work.

Originally Posted by Zeke's Garage

If it's just that the starter is not engaging, then you can probably get by with just swapping out the solenoid/bendix driver, and make sure you don't need some shimming to make engagement easier. The fact that it seems to fail after some 'heat-up' time makes this sound more like the issue to me.

If you're also having slow cranking after the engine is warm, then that could have to to with too much initial timing as well.. You can try to back it off a bit and see if it gets better.

Also, check ALL your main power connections and cables.. older wiring can oxidize under the insulation and you can't see it.

Good luck with it!

The starter engages but gets kicked back shortly afterwords. The wiring is old and crusty. Perhaps I should replace from the starter on up and see if that helps at all.

Originally Posted by MY67GMC

Are you getting correct voltage (12v) to the starter when if fails to engage the solenoid?

I will try this also, had not thought to see if the voltage is dropping when under load.




Thanks for the ideas everyone, should keep me busy for oh.. a couple of hours