starter dies plz help!!!

Hi, I have a 69 velle SS I currently have a 327 in it with a 350 soon to follow I have a Starter problem though. I can hit the starter and it turns over about 5-10 times and if it doesn't start by then I'm screwed cuz it won't do anything after that. If I hook jumpercables to it then it will turn over as many times as it takes. Its like the battery goes dead or something. I have had a few different batterys on it and replaced all my grounds even on the motor and replaced the starter 2 times but still the same after a few turns when I hit the key the gen. light and the oil light comes on like it is wanting to turn over but all is silent can anyone help me???? :banghead:

Not sure exactly what you're saying, but here goes. If the starter spins, but the engine doesn't, you may need to replace the starter solenoid. If the starter spins, and the engine is turning over as well, you have some other problem. Your starter probably stops turning after 5-10 tries most likely because the wires are getting hot. But if it's just the starter that's spinning, try changing the solenoid.

The starter silenoid is o-k when it kicks the starter works but but only for about 15 seconds i'm leaning twards the wire getting hot but it has gotten better since I added another ground. I added it between the alt. bracket and the frame I don't know what it is... I have pulled the big wiring block with the bolt through it loose from the firewall anc cleaned it with contact cleaner and it helped quite a bit but the problem is still there. their is a purple wire that I have found coming out of the factory harness and when I touch it to the positive terminal block on the firewall the starter works fine so it has to be somewhere between the starter and the ignition switch and I have felt the ignition wire that comes from the ignition switch to the remote terminal on the starter but i can't feel any breaks or it getting hot when someone else turns it over for me I am completely stumped on this one???

Oh ok. I think you might want to find out why you have to crank the engine over for 15 seconds or more. These older Chevys...if they're in decent running condition, should start up in a couple of seconds. But I agree with you about the wires getting hot. I think once you're able to get your engine started quickly...maybe through carb. or timing adjustments...your starter problems will go away, because it won't have to work so hard trying to start the engine. Good Luck :)

I have tried different starters and this is the second motor I have had in it and it still does the same thing the motor is a .030 over 327 and it has a 650 manual secondary on it and an electric pump and I let it build up pressure and everything but on some cold mornings it will die it's natural I know but if it does die then I 'm screwed it usually fires on the first turn of the motor when it's warm but still the same thing if it don't I've got one try. I can hook jumper cables to it and fire it straight up without a problem like the battery just goes dead but i can take the same battery off and start my mustang as many times as I want without charging it. Sometimes I can go out there and there will be no clicking or any sound what so ever even if I havent tried it but one time? Is there any resistor wire that is maybe hid or something that is holding back voltage? My dad has a 68 firebird and used to have several comaros and I can crank his car and even if the battery is weak it will still turn over but inless my battery is at full tilt it won't even click the selonoid.. I have a 1000 cranking amp battery that I use on the mustang and it seems to do much better than the others but once again if it don't stay running and dies or something i'm stuck..?? this crap sucks if it is not one thing it's another ya know what I mean..

How is the condition of your positive lead? Sometimes if it has a sharp bend near the eyelit on the starter side it can provide a bad connection due to being broken beneath the surface.

My dad had a Chevy pickup that had a problem like yours. If it didn't want to start up, I'd try running one jumper cable from the positive battery terminal directly to the solenoid, and it worked. So maybe the problem you're having IS in the wiring...maybe even the harness. Remember that the positive lead goes to the starter, through the electrical system and back to the starter to kick it over. I've heard people say that power goes from Negative to Positive. Either way though, it still has to go through the electrical system. So if both battery cables are good, and you've got good ground, and you're sure that your starter is ok, that narrows it down to your electrical system :(. I had a '68 ElCamino http://www.hometown.aol.com/a1supersport/myhomepage/auto.html at one time, and the electrical system was kind of "iffy"...temperamental to say the least. Sometimes the accessories worked fine, sometimes they ran slower, or the lights were dimmer. If you went under the dash and grabbed the wiring harness, it was firm/stiff...almost brittle. Next time it doesn't want to start, try running a jumper cable from the positive battery terminal to the starter solenoid and see if it'll turn over. Be careful...make sure it's in Park or Neutral. Good Luck :).

K---Here is this weekend's outcome the positive lead to the starter is not bent I have it turned to the side where it is going straight in and I have run a jumper cable straight to the starter and it worked fine every time also I have a remote starter switch that I can put between the positive and the ignition wire on the selonoid and it works fine like that so I guess that it's between the switch and the starter I'm going to buy a new ignition switch this week do you think this is a good idea? it is all confusing because I have found a purple wire just poking out of my wiring harness right below the 2-prong positive terminal on the firewall and if I touch it to the positive then the starter works all every time and the purple wire is just hanging there W.T.F. .....gotta love my car he he he does anyone know what this purple wire is it's about a 12-14 gauge wire sticking out right in the middle of the firewall on the back of the engine and what color is the ignition wire for the starter??? thank you for all your help

By the way, that purple wire you found goes to the "S" terminal on the starter solenoid :).

I know this thread is a bit old, but I have a similar problem.

I put the key in the ingition and turn it to start it up. Nothing happens. All I hear is a 'click'. Also the GEN light on the dash won't turn off?

Can somebody help me? It's a 68 Chevelle.

Thanks...

Is the battery ok? You'll need a fully charged battery in good condition to start with. Then check the cables, and make sure the connections are good on both ends of both cables.

Yeah I cleaned the connections to the battery the best I could. I'm thinking the battery is low on juice. I will try to jumpstart it and run the car around for a while and see if I can keep a charge.