Starter problems in very cold weather

[meegaleedo]

I just bought a 95 Caprice with the V8 w/25K miles on it. In extreme cold it will not start. The solinoid will click each time I turn the key but the starter will not engage and not turn the motor over. I have to turn the key several times before it will engage, if at all. I have had the 2nd starter in this in two weeks (Under dealer warranty, no charge to me). The Mechanic is stumped. They have never seen anything like this.

Any Ideas?

[BobM46128]

You don't say where you got your replacement starters. Of course you can even have bad starters when you buy the best. I had a similar experience with a 6.2 diesel. I replaced all the wires with high grade welder cable and even replaced the control wires. Finally I replaced the new starter and had no more problems.
If the starter is getting juice, then it has to be in the starter. IMHO

[meegaleedo]

Originally Posted by BobM46128

You don't say where you got your replacement starters. Of course you can even have bad starters when you buy the best. I had a similar experience with a 6.2 diesel. I replaced all the wires with high grade welder cable and even replaced the control wires. Finally I replaced the new starter and had no more problems.
If the starter is getting juice, then it has to be in the starter. IMHO

A local rebuild shop because my mechanic says new starters are not available for this car. Supposedly the shop is top notch and he has all his stuff done through there. Maybe there is a bad lot of starters. The ait tmp has to be above 5-10 degrees for the starter to work under that, I have problems. It has got to warm up around here!

[burnM]

I don't see why you would have trouble finding a brand new starter for your car. The engine in your car is the same as many other GM vehicles. I had to replace my starter last year during the winter,same problem as you. My mechanic tells me that this model of car tends to chew through them quite quickly. Something about the wiring getting too hot. Try checking the part stores yourself to see what they have. Maybe your mechanic has a deal with this guy to send him all the business that he can. I don't mean to flame your mechanic, but it doesn't hurt to check for yourself!

[trendar]

Sounds like a bad starter, but check to see that your battery is up to snuff, and isn't dropping too much when you try cranking. Does jump starting with another car have any effect?
Before swapping starters again, you could try using a jumper cable to go directly from the +12V terminal to the starter motor terminal and solenoid, and see if it'll kick in. Check your ground cable connections too-

[RABarrett]

Was the solenoid replaced along with the starter? It is the solenoid that pushes the gear into the flywheel, and then sends voltage to the motor. It is also possible for a weak ground on the engine to cause insufficient current through that circuit, causing the same problem. The only real mechanics are the ones who really understand a system, rarely becoming stumped. One other possibility is that something is dripping or being dropped onto the shaft, causing the gear to not slide on the shaft when pushed by the solenoid. Food for thought. Ray

[meegaleedo]

well, since I had the third starter in (including the original) I have only had the problem once and it only took a second turn of the key to get it going. Thanks all!