Classic/Antique Car Repair: 69 Camaro Starter, starter solenoid, chevy starter

Question
Ok Ill change the solenoid now so i wont have to do it in a slushy puddle, that must have really sucked. Anyways Ill keep you posted on what happens. Thanks

-------------------------

Followup To
Question -
Hey, Before I started to take my starter out I just tried to start it one more time and it started! I have no idea why, I didnt do anything else to it. Should I still have it rebuilt or is it ok? Thanks
Answer -
Chevy starter solenoids often work this way - it'll work one time and not the next.   If you are brave enough just take it apart (you have to remove the starter first, then the solenoid comes off the starter).  There are only two screws holding the solenoid on, then you can buy a replacement solenoid from NAPA and install it yourself.   Pay attention to where the spring goes, and the wires, and you should not have any trouble doing this.  I have done it laying on my back in a slush puddle in below freezing weather in a parking lot in the middle of Nebraska when the temperature is under 20 degrees, in the dark with a flashlight!   (And, I was over 65 at the time!).  If you are going to drive a chevy, you need to know how to change a starter solenoid!   Buy the heavy duty one (NAPA has a cheap one and a good one).   The good ones last about 5 times as long, especially if you have headers on the car, which overheat the solenoid and make it fail sooner.

It is also possible that you have a loose wire, but since this is such a common failure mode for the solenoid, I'm betting that is your problem.


Replacing the solenoid is much cheaper than replacing the whole starter!

Dick.

Answer
Yeah, I was used to it, and carried a spare with me, because my truck had a 454 with headers, and it was always cooking the solenoids.    I used to haul cars for fun and profit, and that was my trailer towing truck (1 Ton Chevy Dually Crew Cab towing a 40 foot ramp trailer).   I don't know how many times I had to do that in the 15 years or so that I hauled cars across the country, but I got so I could do it in about 20 minutes, in any weather!

I also carried a spare alternator and a spare fuel pump, as I was usually in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night when something would quit on me!

Dick