Resolved 1G Intermittent starter issue

[dwb]

I've been having an intermittent no-start no-crank issue for about 8 months now, or since rebuilding the engine. I turn the ignition and sometimes a short pause then it cranks and starts. Other times just a click and I have to try over and over until it finally engages. Most of the time it's normal and cranks right away but my issue seems to be getting worse.
Here are a couple videos of what it's doing. Am I safe to say a new starter will solve it?

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[SixBolt_16G]

I have had the same issue for a long time up til about 2 months ago, but it hasnt done it in a while so it might be fixed. My main issue was that the starter wire screw had backed itself out. I also swapped the starter relay for one that i had sitting on the shelf(Mine is behind the radio on a 2g, not sure where on a 1g). So far havent had anymore problems for something that had been increasing in frequency.

But I think while i was looking into the issue, i found a few threads that said that the coolant sensor, cps, and bad grounds or terminals were also common causes

 

[Dericsh]

Make sure you’re getting battery voltage at the bigger connection on the starter all the time. After that checks out, touch a test light to the small connection on the starter where you can see it (or have a friend try to start the car for you). If it lights up while the key is in START, the starter is receiving the signal to run so it needs to be replaced.

 

[bryanzomg]

Double check starter ground and connection at the starter. But I had same issue, starter passed bench test at orieleys, ended up trying new starter and she fired right up everytime! GOODLUCK keep us updated

 

[dwb]

I'm 99% sure the connections are clean and tight but I'll double check. It seems to happen mostly on cold starts. Considering this is the original starter with 32 years of daily driving use and abuse, it probably needs replacing anyway. I suppose it might be worth tearing it down, cleaning/greasing and reinstall.

 

[Dericsh]

I'm 99% sure the connections are clean and tight but I'll double check. It seems to happen mostly on cold starts. Considering this is the original starter with 32 years of daily driving use and abuse, it probably needs replacing anyway. I suppose it might be worth tearing it down, cleaning/greasing and reinstall.

I saw another thread a few weeks ago that shared the brush kit that was still available. Since that’s the OEM starter, I definitely recommend that as a fix over the Chinese options available now a days. I’ll see if I can find it in my eBay watch list.

Edit: Doh! That thread was about alternator regulator kits. Maybe you have a starter/alternator repair shop in your area? They are becoming hard to find unfortunately.

 

[Vegas Smith]

The best thing I ever dID to my car was buy a costly quality starter. For the first 4 years of ownerhsip I was dealing with this issue, but because I bought a "new" starter from autozone when I bought the car I never assumed it was the starter. When I finally decided to try a new starter the car fired up stronger than ever before. That stupid f***ing autozone starter caused me so much anxiety over years because I always assumed the problem was something else because " I just bought this thing". I wasted so much time testing every wire, fuse, relay in the whole starting circuit before I figured it was the starter itself.

 

[dwb]

I removed the starter and disassembled it. All kinds of gunk built up, caked inside the planetary gears, solenoid, bearings, etc. No obvious signs of failure so I cleaned, greased, reassembled, and reinstalled. The difference in how well it cranks is astonishing. Not sure if that fixed it, but time will tell. Looks promising.

Not sure it does it justice, but compare the sound from video 2 above. No more squeak and spins noticeably faster.

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[Dericsh]

Sounds so much better!

 

[steve]

Have you bypassed the Clutch Safety switch?
If not double check both the switch and the little rubber stopper attached to the clutch pedal that depresses the switch, they wear out.

 

[dwb]

Have you bypassed the Clutch Safety switch?

Yeah, I did that literally 20 years ago
It did cross my mind that maybe the wire got pinched under the clutch pedal and somehow grounded out, but it is OK.

So far today, no issues at all.

 

[steve]

Hopefully the issue is resolved, there's only wire, starter relay, and ignition switch left.

 

[dwb]

It's been over two weeks since cleaning / greasing my starter and I haven't had a single issue as a daily driver. I think it's fair to say this is resolved.