Starter/solenoid problems

So my 69 Skylark started hesitating while driving, and then would cut out completely. Yesterday, I got a block away from my apartment and the same thing happened. I called AAA and they checked my battery (apparently OK) and the tow driver gave my starter a tap and it started alright, but I didnt get very far. I had planned to going to replace the valve cover gaskets (minor oil leak) and I think that may be the culprit here...Should I replace the starter, solenoid, both? Any tips, tricks? o No: Thanks in advance.

Eric

 

Check your wiring at the starter and also your ignition coil and grounds

 

oil leaks are not the cause of your hesitation/cut-out

 

This might help

http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/st-1.shtml

If you can't get a hold of MAD jegs had the same kit

Matt

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I bought a remanu starter today, and before diving in, tried starting it a few times and got some strange grinding noises. Unfortunately, I think a replacement is in order, but I'll check the wiring before unbolting everything. I think the oil leak on the passenger side onto the starter may have had some hand in the problem...

 

sounds like the starter mounting bolts have worked loose.... go ahead and remove it and install the new one.... tighten the new one up good....
I have a personal rule,,,,,,I never remove a starter withour rebuilding or replacing it with a new one....and then test it before re installing it.....:Smarty:

 

if your hearing a grinding noise then when you have the starter out MAKE SURE you check the ring gear on the flywheel. i will be willing to bet that if your starter was loose then it was flopping around and bashing against the ring gear and may have grinded a tooth off. :beers2:

 

Well, unfortunately, I didnt have time (or a strong enough jack that I borrowed) to get a closer look at the starter, and had it towed to the shop around the corner yesterday before getting a parking ticket. The shop confirmed the starter was shot, and I think the cut out while driving may have been a frayed neg battery cable (which I replaced Friday) and/or low gas. Hopefully, the new starter will do the trick.ray:

 

a bad starter wouldnt have caused it to cut out. maybe the cables were bad like you said.:beer

 

With the work involved in getting an old starter off and back on for our cars, and considering the relative low cost of a starter and solenoid, always replace both.

Rock Auto has the starter priced at about $50. Premium Solenoid is priced at $35. No reason to choose one or the other. Do both, save a headache later.

 

I agree that is easier to replace both if you are replacing them. I was under my car removing/reinstalling/removing, etc. my starter and solenoid in combination last summer and in the end it was the starter that was really bad. It would have been easier to just replace both from the start instead of taking them off and on several times like I did diagnosing the problem. Part of what made the starter a pain was that its issues were intermittent.

 

Got the Skylark back Thursday with the new starter installed AND a new fuel pump (which apparently was the cut out while driving problem...). Time for some driving with the top down