QuestionI have a '68 GTO that I have replaced a battery a year for the last three years. I have also replaced the starter at the same intervals. The battery has 1 or 2 dead cells each time, I also have it on a battery tender. The starters I have shimmed them out more than is recommended and it still won't engage every time, I have even tried 2 different starters at the same time, they work for a few starts then click,clik, clik, start. Once the car is running, I turn it off and start over again with the click etc. These are new out of the box starters that do this. I return them to the auto hse and they work on the test bench. any ideas? thanks kevin
AnswerI think you have more than one problem.
As for the batteries failing with bad cells, that is usually caused by overcharging - I suspect your battery tender is putting out too much current. If you have a VOM (Volt-Ohm-Current Meter), or can borrow one, check on the current being pumped into your battery by the tender after it has been on for long enough to settle down. If it continues to pump out over 1 ampere after the battery is fully charged, it is cooking your battery. A lot of so called "trickle" chargers have this problem. The way to use this device is to put it on for a day or so once a month while the car is not being driven, but otherwise leave it disconnected. Another good thing to do is to disconnect one of the battery cables in your car when it is going to be parked for more than a couple of days. It's a pain in the neck, I know, but it will keep your battery healthy for many years. I have an old truck I use here on the ranch once in a while, the battery is 11 years old and still working well. I do that routine with all my old cars - I just leave one of the battery cables very slightly loose, so I can just twist it a bit and lift it off when I put the car away for few days or longer. It also prevents rodent damage caused fires!
The starter problem could be dirty battery cable connections, or an intermittent starter contact in your ignition switch, or, most likely, your "new" starters have actually been rebuilt starters - these are notorious for this sort of problem unless you have them rebuilt by a good shop. See if you can find a local old time auto-electric place and have them check out the starter - I'm thinking the contacts in the main solenoid are not making good contact.
Shims only affect the engagement - if the starter ever spins without engaging the flywheel teeth, you may have shim problems, or if the starter makes a horrible noise when it is cranking. Otherwise, I don't think the shims have anything to do with your problem.
Dick
