[red_rider52]

I'm having some problems starting my car It has a Chev 383 stroker in it. My problem is sometimes when I go to start it, it wont turn over. It does not try at all no click nothing. Other times it fires right up like normal. When it wont start I can start the car by jumping the starter with a screw driver. Touch the positive on the starter to the small wire on the starter solenoid. I have been told that the problem is the solenoid. It does not make sense to me tho because it works when you jump it? I thought before I start spending money on parts or pulling my hair out looking for something that my not be the problem. I would ask here first.

Thanks.

[Henry Highrise]

Its the solenoid....when you jump it you are by-passing the internal switch inside of it. Just put a new solinoid on it and you should be good to go.

[red_rider52]

Ohh ok Thanks. I just replaced the solenoid a few months ago. I wonder why it did not last long?

[Chevrolet4x4s]

You have headers?If so you may need one of these.I got lucky and had enough clearance that it hasn't caused any issues running with out one yet.
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...115+4294840140
You could make one too sheet metal ....coffee can(metal one)etc etc etc
Shane

[Henry Highrise]

Parts are like that now days...a lot of them are made overseas now and some are quality and some are not. Also if you are running headers and they are close to the starter ...you will have problems caused by the heat.. If so you could wrap that part of the header with header wrap or use a heat shield of some type. Or the best thing is to look in the Summit or Jegs catalog or go to thier website and order a remote solenoid set up.

[red_rider52]

Thanks for the info guys. I do have a heat shield like the picture shown on the starter already. I will change the solenoid again and see how long it last they are not expensive.

[ernkazern]

You can make your own remote solenoid by using a Ford starter solenoid and a few feet of wire. I haven't replaced a solenoid in 3 years since i installed one.

[Deuce]

Summit Racing sells a kit to FIX your problem ... for $20.95

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

[Holly-Roller]

Originally Posted by ernkazern

You can make your own remote solenoid by using a Ford starter solenoid and a few feet of wire. I haven't replaced a solenoid in 3 years since i installed one.

This is what I did as well. Very easy to do, mount your solenoid on your firewall or wherever you want it, bypass the Gm solenoid and run the starter hot to the solenoid start side. Very easy, very cheap, works well.

[dinger]

Check your ground wires also. it looks by your album you've done a lot of painting under the hood, a poor ground can cause starting problems. Had the problem, had to scratch some paint off to get a good ground to the cowl. Dan

[scr8pin_f100]

Ok, so maybe I am missing something here... I am sometimes not the brightest bulb... But when a starter mounted solenoid goes out due to the heat from headers or whatever, what usually fries? I guess the reason that I am asking is if a person installs a Ford style solenoid remotely, then how will the solenoid on the started engage the starter bendix?? I mean, sure it will get the current to the starter mounted solenoid using the remote Ford solenoid, but if the windings in the soleniod is what goes bad, then it still won't pull...Right? I ain't sayin you all are wrong, I am saying I just don't understand apparently....

Thanks

scr8pin

[ernkazern]

One of the other steps in installing the Ford starter solenoid is to jumper between the 2 large bolts on the Chevy starter solenoid. This allows the power from the Ford solenoid to do 2 things. One, the starter solenoid is energized and this moves the starter drive into contact with the flywheel. Two, the starter starts spinning. If you look closely at the Summit kit you'll see a wide connector with 2 big holes, that connects the 2 studs on the Chevy solenoid. I made my own connector with some 10 gauge wire and a couple of wire eyes. It's not as pretty but it takes care of business.

[scr8pin_f100]

aww, I can see clearly now the rain is gone!!!LOL That makes more sense to me.. Cool thanks for that!!

scr8pin

[WagonMan]

If you are jumping the SMALL terminal with the BATTERY terminal like I read in your first post, that would seem to say the solenoid is working properly. If you are jumping across both LARGE terminals it may be the solenoid after all. I would lean more towards a neutral safety switch or the ignition switch. Next time it happens put a test light on the small start terminal and see if it lights up when you turn the switch to start. if the light fails to light up you have a switch or wiring problem.
Charles

[jimfulco]

A defective ignition switch can also cause the no-start, no-click problem, as can other things.

My '72 Nova did a similar trick at ~100,000 miles. Intermittent no-start, not even a click. A new solenoid didn't fix it, nor did a new ignition switch. I hot-wired it and it worked fine every time, but I never figured out why. I did end up replacing the brushes & bushings in the starter, and it has worked normally ever since, but I still can't tell you why. Gremlins, I guess.