I have an intermittent problem with the starter on my '70 Chevelle with a 396, manual transmission. On occasion, when I turn the key, nothing happens. I see the interior lights blink so I'm pretty sure I'm getting juice but I don't even get a clicking from the starter. If I get under the car and rap the starter a couple of times with a hammer, it'll start and be OK for a while. Could this be a solenoid problem or should I just bite the bullet and replace the whole nine yards, starter and solenoid? I'll probably have to take off the header to get to the starter and I'm not looking forward to doing it once, let alone twice.
Finally, exactly what happens when I whack the starter that makes it work OK?

Thanks or any help.

Sometimes the started brushes get worn down so short they don't make good contact with the commutator and jaring the starter causes contact.

When you go to remove the starter, try just looseing the header bolts enough to pull it away from the starter. Depending on the header design you might get away with this.

Your description is a little odd. The interior light should not blink as you turn the key. The interior light has constant power so it should remain on no matter what you do with the key. I'm more inclined to think you have a bad connection in the wiring harness.

Peter

Peter,

"Blink" was probably a poor choice of words. It's more like they dim somewhat.

Have you checked the neutral safety switch located on the clutch pedal? Mine did the same thing and that's what it was. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

TJ,

I didn't think manual transmissions had a neutral safety switch. I thought they were only on automatics. Where on the clutch pedal did you find yours?

I can think of 2 possibilities.

You have a bad solenoid on the starter and it's drawing a bunch of current but not engaging.

You have a wiring problem. Somewhere on the wire that runs battery, firewall, ign, neutral switch, firewall, starter there is a bad connection. Maybe more than one. The wire is red to the ign and then purple from there and it is a heavy 10awg or 12awg wire. I've seen posts that the neutral switch wire or maybe some other part of the wiring was 12 guage and it should be changed to 10 guage to help the problem.

Peter