Starting Problem Solved '92 SSEi
#1
Starting Problem Solved '92 SSEi
Since I bought my '92 SSEi last spring, it has had an intermittent starting problem. Acted like a bad starter solenoid. It would just click but not engage the flywheel or spin. It always eventually started, but sometimes after a minute or more of trying.
I had tried cleaning the battery contacts and grounds earlier this summer and that seemed to help for a while, but as winter approached, It kept getting worse, so yesterday I pulled the starter.
I am lucky to have a small specialty shop here in town (Ames Auto Electric) that rebuilds starters, alternators, generators and the like. They rebuilt it for me ($59). The problem was the solenoid plunger hangs up in the bore when you turn the key and the electromagnet is energized. That'* why you don't hear much of a click. The guy who rebuilds these said that GM solved this problem in later years by greasing the solenoid plunger and tube, which they do too when they rebuild them. I will ask when I pick up the starter this morning what kind of grease in case there are some of you who want to try this fix. [edit: superlube with PTFE]
Oh, also, the starter relies on internal ground paths that are prone to degradation by corrosion. So, a good cleaning and greasing would have probably fixed me up. I did have them put in new brushes and a starter drive, cuz I don't want to go there again for a while.
Hope this helps someone else who might be having a similar problem.
I had tried cleaning the battery contacts and grounds earlier this summer and that seemed to help for a while, but as winter approached, It kept getting worse, so yesterday I pulled the starter.
I am lucky to have a small specialty shop here in town (Ames Auto Electric) that rebuilds starters, alternators, generators and the like. They rebuilt it for me ($59). The problem was the solenoid plunger hangs up in the bore when you turn the key and the electromagnet is energized. That'* why you don't hear much of a click. The guy who rebuilds these said that GM solved this problem in later years by greasing the solenoid plunger and tube, which they do too when they rebuild them. I will ask when I pick up the starter this morning what kind of grease in case there are some of you who want to try this fix. [edit: superlube with PTFE]
Oh, also, the starter relies on internal ground paths that are prone to degradation by corrosion. So, a good cleaning and greasing would have probably fixed me up. I did have them put in new brushes and a starter drive, cuz I don't want to go there again for a while.
Hope this helps someone else who might be having a similar problem.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post