solenoid?

[ksolo]

i have a 76 v8. replaced the battery, starter, all the belts, and the fuel pump (and some assembly inside) when i got it in the spring. started and ran pretty good, until a few weeks ago. i took a longer trip, and when i got back, got a beer with a buddy, and came out it wouldn't start. i was like oh well, maybe not supposed to drive.

this went on for a couple weeks, where it would start, go somewhere, start or not? you never knew. it has gotten a lot worse in the last few days. no real pattern either.

basically, it turns over very slowly. the battery seems charged as the lights are bright but the battery wires are both very hot, and i was trying the solenoid by-pass trick with two screwdrivers, and the positive actually was so hot it smoked.

does this sound like the solenoid? the reason i ask is b/c in the starting process that is basically all that hasn't been replaced. i will put it in the shop, but that would be such an easy fix i wouldn't mind doing that myself.

thanks for any insight.

 

[Bully Bob]

There's starters & then there's starters....where did you get it..?

(You can get a bad one)

How about the ground cable....? (bad conn./old rotted cable can cause heat.)

Sure try the solenoid but I doubt the cables would heat-up downstream of a bad solenoid

 

[ksolo]

I got the starter at Salvo's a local chain around here in Baltimore.

The cables i am referring to are upstream, as in coming from the battery to the solenoid. The solenoid is inbetween the battery and the starter.

i checked the battery ground cable if that is what you are referring, but we replaced that with the new battery.

 

[Broncoholics]

Yeah, sounds like a bad ground or loose wire somewhere.

 

[lukeyboy60]

I am having a similar prob. as we speak. I have put a new solenoid and all it does is zzzztttt? if you know what I mean. My wires did smoke with the new solenoid but that is because the sheath on the wire b/w solenoid and statrter was grounding on the fender. Changed it and it quit smoking.

 

[Broncoholics]

Sounds like something else is smoked. Are you getting power to the coil?