Testing Starter and Solenoid

[richard cockrell]

Hello:

I’ve been storing my 1976 Palm Beach for a number of years waiting for good time to start on it. It started last year no problem.
This year, I turned the key and heard absolutely nothing - fresh batter and the lights in the cab work and there seems to be power on the big red wire to the starter.

I assume that is the solenoid was good, I’d hear the clicking noise. Since I hear nothing, so I assume that means there is a broken connection from the batter to the solenoid or the solenoid is bad. Is there anyway to tell? I dropped the starter and put 12 across the S and power terminal and grounded the case. The started jumped, it seems good to me.

Can I buy the solenoid separate from the starter? Any thoughts?

Thanks Much, Rich - Mpls.

 

[richard cockrell]

Sorry, let me clean up the grammar below

>
> Hello:
>
> I’ve been storing my 1976 Palm Beach for a number of years waiting for good time to start on it. It started last year no problem.
> This year, I turned the key and heard absolutely nothing - fresh battery and the lights in the cab work and there seems to be power on the big red wire to the starter.
>
> I assumed that is the solenoid was good, otherwise, I’d hear the clicking noise. Since I hear nothing, I assume that means there is a broken connection from the battery to the solenoid or the solenoid is bad. Is there anyway to tell? I dropped the starter and put 12 across the S and power terminal and grounded the case. The started jumped, it seems good to me.

The ignition seems to turn a little short too.
>
> Can I buy the solenoid separate from the starter? Any thoughts?
>
> Thanks Much, Rich - Mpls.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[Matt Colie]

> Sorry, let me clean up the grammar below
>
>

> >
> > Hello:
> >
> > I've been storing my 1976 Palm Beach for a number of years waiting for good time to start on it. It started last year no problem.
> > This year, I turned the key and heard absolutely nothing - fresh battery and the lights in the cab work and there seems to be power on the
> > big red wire to the starter.
> >
> > I assumed that is the solenoid was good, otherwise, I'd hear the clicking noise. Since I hear nothing, I assume that means there is a broken
> > connection from the battery to the solenoid or the solenoid is bad. Is there anyway to tell? I dropped the starter and put 12 across the S and
> > power terminal and grounded the case. The started jumped, it seems good to me.
>
> The ignition seems to turn a little short too.
> >
> > Can I buy the solenoid separate from the starter? Any thoughts?
> >
> > Thanks Much, Rich - Mpls.

Richard,

Yes. solenoids for Delco starters are easy to get. They were the same from 1956 to 1995. The only change being that they dropped the P pin with the
introduction of HEI.

It seems you have proved that the starter motor is good.
While it is on the bench, Undo the connection to the actual motor (that little copper strap) and put 12V to the S pin.
If you feel the solenoid "CLUNK" that is probably not your problem.

You might just unroll a wiring diagram and crawl under the steering column and check that you are actually hitting the start switch. This is a very
common problem and it can be as simple as the switch out of adjustment on the column, or the mechanism in the column is shot. (Still not a big deal
if you are Chuck Boyd.)

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
'73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
Now with both true Keyless and remote entry
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[Gene Fisher]

Read here
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6460/start_switch_talk.pdf

An come to the GMCWS rally for your free tap

> > Sorry, let me clean up the grammar below
> >
> >

> > >
> > > Hello:
> > >
> > > I've been storing my 1976 Palm Beach for a number of years waiting
> for good time to start on it. It started last year no problem.
> > > This year, I turned the key and heard absolutely nothing - fresh
> battery and the lights in the cab work and there seems to be power on the
> > > big red wire to the starter.
> > >
> > > I assumed that is the solenoid was good, otherwise, I'd hear the
> clicking noise. Since I hear nothing, I assume that means there is a broken
> > > connection from the battery to the solenoid or the solenoid is bad.
> Is there anyway to tell? I dropped the starter and put 12 across the S and
> > > power terminal and grounded the case. The started jumped, it seems
> good to me.
> >
> > The ignition seems to turn a little short too.
> > >
> > > Can I buy the solenoid separate from the starter? Any thoughts?
> > >
> > > Thanks Much, Rich - Mpls.
>
> Richard,
>
> Yes. solenoids for Delco starters are easy to get. They were the same
> from 1956 to 1995. The only change being that they dropped the P pin with
> the
> introduction of HEI.
>
> It seems you have proved that the starter motor is good.
> While it is on the bench, Undo the connection to the actual motor (that
> little copper strap) and put 12V to the S pin.
> If you feel the solenoid "CLUNK" that is probably not your problem.
>
> You might just unroll a wiring diagram and crawl under the steering column
> and check that you are actually hitting the start switch. This is a very
> common problem and it can be as simple as the switch out of adjustment on
> the column, or the mechanism in the column is shot. (Still not a big deal
> if you are Chuck Boyd.)
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> '73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
> Now with both true Keyless and remote entry
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html