Son of a b....

[CheeseSteakJim]

So... I think my starter's about to go. Today when I went out and turned the key, all I heard was a click. I turned it a couple more times, with the same thing happening. Then it finally started up. Someone at work said something about having a dead spot in my solenoid, so to fix this particular problem, is that all I'd have to replace?

Next up is the starter itself. Sometimes when I start it, it doesn't catch and I can just hear it spinning. Usually if I turn it off and try again, it'll catch and start the car up.

I'm probably going to buy the starter tomorrow, and if the same problem keeps happening, I'll also get a solenoid. I'm just checking here for any advice, as usual, since I've never done this.

EDIT: Also, where's the starter/solenoid located? I know what the starter looks like, because I went in the back of the shop today and searched out the one I'm going to end up buying. I haven't gotten under the car to find it yet, but so I don't waste needless time, I'd rather just ask here for a general idea of where to look.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

solenoid will be less expensive than a starter, thats for sure!

but it does sound like you may have a starter problem, with it spinning but the bendix not poppin out like it should.

[87 town]

So... I think my starter's about to go. Today when I went out and turned the key, all I heard was a click. I turned it a couple more times, with the same thing happening. Then it finally started up. Someone at work said something about having a dead spot in my solenoid, so to fix this particular problem, is that all I'd have to replace?

Next up is the starter itself. Sometimes when I start it, it doesn't catch and I can just hear it spinning. Usually if I turn it off and try again, it'll catch and start the car up.

I'm probably going to buy the starter tomorrow, and if the same problem keeps happening, I'll also get a solenoid. I'm just checking here for any advice, as usual, since I've never done this.

EDIT: Also, where's the starter/solenoid located? I know what the starter looks like, because I went in the back of the shop today and searched out the one I'm going to end up buying. I haven't gotten under the car to find it yet, but so I don't waste needless time, I'd rather just ask here for a general idea of where to look.

yep, it sounds like a starter with the spinning and then catching later. Someone may be able to correct me here....but, if i remember correctly, the solenoid is on the starter and is sold as one part..

[Dusty]

I think I would go for a complete starter. The clicking noise could be a solenoid, but the spinning sound is the slip clutch going out.

[nailfoot]

On every starter I have ever done, the solenoid is part of the starter. The starter has two cylinders, The bigger one is of course the starting motor itself. The smaller one is the solenoid.

On my 1970 Catalina's starter, I could get the wife to crank it while I crawled under the car and smashed a hammer against that starter. That made the bendix fly out and grab the flywheel and roar the car to life. This worked for about a month, until finally the stupid thing would NOT stop running and almost burned my car to the ground in a TLC parking lot! I was younger and dumber then (is that possible ;) ), and thought if the hammer trick worked, why should I replace the starter.

I do NOT recommend fooling around with your starter. Get it fixed ASAP, before the solenoid locks on and even pulling the keys out of the ignition will not disengage it. You have to disconnect the battery ground cable if that happens, and FAST!

On my Catalina's starter, you had to shim the starter so the gears meshed with the flywheel correctly. On my 1992 Jeep, you do not need shims. I would assume on a 1980's model TC, you would need no shims, but if you do need them the new starter will include them. If you get the mesh wrong, you will strip out the starter's teeth, or (WORSE) the flywheel's teeth.


The starter is at the bottom, back of the engine. On the passenger's side, at the crossmember. I have never done an 80s model starter, so I do not know the little details. On some cars, you have to have a 20" extension to reach the top mounting bolt, other cars require you to disconnect the wiring from the top of the engine and then the bolts. Of course, you would want to disconnect the wiring before the bolts anyway, but I do not know if it is easier from the top or bottom on your car.

[LBL09]

just got thru replacing the soleoid on the starter on my 1986 GMC 6.2 L diesel Suburban. You could be missing a tooth in the flywheel but more than likely the solenoid because it starts after a few trys. I dont believe there can be a (Dead Spot) on the solenoid but the contacts can be burnt. the starter can have a dead spot in the windings. It is just a powerful electric motor!

[Red91SiT]

as far as the dead spots are concerned, turning the key and nothing happnes. My cougar and my Lincoln did this, I have found by not pushing on the brake pedal that it starts right up everytime. They don't seem like there should be any connection here, but try it.

[v8_dave]

Is they key turning all the way? I have a similair problem but I can fell it is just not turning enough. Bad cylinder. All I need to do to fix it is take the key out and try again. But when the gear isnt engaging, starter pieces are on the way out so change it and you will be happy and have a more reliable car.

[Duck]

Sounds like the starter drive in the starter. I would replace the solenoid first. It should be mounted on the right fender well. It may not be putting out enough juice to engage the starter drive. They are $8.99 at Auto Zone.

Duck

[Wolfe_83Conti]

My Conti is doing almost exactly this, except the flywheel's teeth are fine. If you have that roundish solenoid on the fender well, then you have a relay starter, which means more parts to worry about. I've priced mine (which I think is the same setup as yours) and a good starter runs about $100 at Advance. I love dealing with old Windsors!

The starter will most likely look like just a big can mounted on the engine, since the solenoid isn't attached to it. There's a little hump on one side, but no cylinder. I still need to replace mine. Starts on the 2nd or 3rd try, with the brake on.

[nailfoot]

...

The starter will most likely look like just a big can mounted on the engine, since the solenoid isn't attached to it. There's a little hump on one side, but no cylinder. I still need to replace mine. Starts on the 2nd or 3rd try, with the brake on.

There ya go, advise from a 5.0 owner. All of my starter's had attached solenoids. Seems yours will be easier to replace than mine. I never bothered doing a solenoid by itself since the starter had to come out anyway.

[gadget73]

Yep, old style Ford starters don't have a solenoid on them. Before you go replacing parts. pull and clean the connections on the starter relay, the starter, the battery, and the ground connection on the engine. Often, this fixes it. If not, quite possibly time for a starter but the connections probably needed attention anyway.

[Wolfe_83Conti]

With mine, the starter cranks slooowly before spinning properly. That what my dad's Chevy did before the starter finally died (1982 V6 S-10, 350k+ miles! :eek:).

[nailfoot]

With mine, the starter cranks slooowly before spinning properly. That what my dad's Chevy did before the starter finally died (1982 V6 S-10, 350k+ miles! :eek:).

Dude, that's what my 1970 Catalina did before the solenoid stuck "ON" and even removing the key from the ignition wouldn't stop it. I had to rip the battery cable off of the ground to stop it. Mind you, the positive cable and ground cable were smoking, and my car was moments from bursting into flames.

Grabbing the smoldering ground cable and ripping it off of the battery terminal was the worst pain I have had in my life, even overshadowing my name's sake.

[87 town]

Sounds like the starter drive in the starter. I would replace the solenoid first. It should be mounted on the right fender well. It may not be putting out enough juice to engage the starter drive. They are $8.99 at Auto Zone.

Duck

There is a way to By Pass the solenoid on the firewall also to see if this is the problem. It has been a while since I did this, so please don't just try it till this info gets confirmed by others on line...
If you remove the wire from the solenoid so that the threaded area is available and get a long heavy screwdriver and hold the screwdriver on the thread and with the other end of the screwdriver you ground on another part of the car with the ignition key on you would be able to start the car. The thought here is that if the car starts up quickly your problem may just be in the solenoid not transferring proper power to the starter or bad connections along the way, but if you still having spinning or missing or a slow crank your problem should be elsewhere like the starter itself or other connections already mentioned.
Funny little story...When I was a teen (about 30 yerars ago), I had a 64 Ford Galaxie and I remember carrying around a butter knife with me and jump started my car all the time that way. I didn't know what was wrong at the time, but I knew this worked. Once I came out of a store and a cop was sitting in his car next to mine and I proceeded to start my car this way. Naturally, he questioned me...lol