|
The following will work if you have the later starter where the
2 copper bolts come straight out of the front of the solenoid.
(Probably will work with the earlier one also but I haven't tried
it. On the earlier one the upper bolt comes out at a 45° upward
angle.)
Get a big, heavy screwdriver, one you are not too particular about.
With the ignition off and the car in neutral, use the tip of the
screwdriver to short FIRMLY between the two bolts, being careful
not to allow it to touch any grounded item. This should cause the
starter to crank the engine. If it does, first and every time,
you have about verified that the fault lies in the starter solenoid.
If this is the case, remove the starter from the engine.
Remove the solenoid from the starter.
Dig the potting out of the holes in the plastic cap of the
solenoid.
Unscrew the screws to remove the cap. Try to preserve the gasket.
The cap will also be held in by 3 wires soldered into two brass
grommets (actually hollow rivets) in the cap. Using a soldering iron,
melt the solder in one hole and pull the cap out on that side, then
do the same on the other hole. Put a mark next to the hole with 2 wires.
There will probably be staked washers around both bolts. With diligence
and wire cutters, vise grips or other tools these washers can be
unscrewed like nuts, releasing the 2 bolts. The heads of these bolts
are two of the contacts and all blackening and roughness should be
filed off of them. Then replace them as you found them and screw
the washers back on. Inspect the flat strip contact on the solenoid
plunger, and file off the black part and roughness on it also.
Reassemble the solenoid, soldering the wires into the holes,
then reinstall the solenoid onto the starter, being sure that
all fasteners are GOOD AND TIGHT.
Put the starter back on the engine, being careful that it is properly
seated before tightening the mounting bolts (otherwise you can break
off an ear.)
Reconnect the wires and cables tightly and you should have a new
leash on life. (arf, arf)
This can normally be done about 4 or 5 times before you have
to add some silver braze to the contacts to build them back up.
|
