billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

glad I could help

andyman32

Greetings folks! I finished replacing the starter motor contacts and solenoid. There have been other general instructions and photos here but I took a lot of detailed, high-res photos at various points through the project. It might be interesting for you to browse through... here it is:

http://andywhalen.com/2-uncategorise...arter-travails

At the end of the day, it's starting like a champ. Hope it sticks but I think it will, I think that was the culprit. I'll drive the car all week to verify. Thanks Billy and everyone for the good advice!

Cheers,
Andy

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

Hay Andy, greeeaaat photos that will surely help others, and dont worry, nothing is going to break, just enjoy the ride......

deanshark

Damn Andy, awesome pics, what a difference between old and new parts. Seeing the old parts I'd bet that was your problem. These pics wouldn't really help me seeing how a have a 93 but I'm definately saving them anyway. I know what ya mean when saying "OMFG what have I gotten myself into". I've said that a few times while tearing this car apart. But it's gratifying when you're done. Oh, and that blue, NIIICCEE.

caliLS400

I would have checked for good grounds and connections from the engine harness to the battery and fuse board under the hood first. I had a similar problem.

andyman32

I did - at least the battery posts. I've had problems with labored starting in other cars due to oxidation on the posts and negative grounds in the engine bay. The problem I'm having with this car is that everything looks NEW under the bonnet. Those old copper components were definitely the smoking gun here. The car is still starting like a champ, so far I've cranked it a total of 8 times since I put it back together. Immediately prior to the procedure I could crank it 6 or 8 times in a row and it would fail every time.

The only other thing that I thought it MIGHT have been was a bad starter relay. I chose to go for the starter solenoid rebuild first solely on the force of recommendations from this forum. However, throughout that project, I definitely had occasional nagging thoughts... what if everything is fine inside the starter? What if it was just the relay?

Anyway - all's well that ends well!

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

when mine started the click/fail series, this forum said it was common at 150k on 99models, plus my own experence, so my nephew (who used to work for me in my shop) tore it down and it looked like yours..... then 2 months later my wifes started it, so we done it again (I sure dont want her stranded anywhere) and it was the same way...
all that was last year and there has been no CLICK since... just purr.... love the LS's

andyman32

Hi folks, I posted this question and got some good advice nearly a year ago (well, 11 months). I just wanted to tie a bow around it and report back that the car has been starting perfectly this entire past year. So this definitely did the trick. If you have intermittent non-start and you haven't already rebuilt this solenoid, that's the first place to start (pun!).

Also, thanks to the forum!

j2b4o

Glad you can start with confidence again!!

Is the starter in the same spot with the same weak points on the 90'??
(forgive me for not searching for the answer but I wouldn't have ever thought of the question had I not read the thread my starter is fine just good to know)

Thanks!

BobN54

Interesting. The old solenoid and contacts don't look that bad. All that dust is a definite problem though.