How to repair a vintage GM starter solenoid ( for older cars )

There is no need to throw away your GM solenoid or buy a new one....

[@pierobarbato7748]

my 1956 oldsmobile got me stranded yesterday, i only heard a click like you said. very clear explanation, I will work on it. thanks sr.

[@alienaxe]

@@pierobarbato7748 if you can’t slip the disk, you can sand it down and clean it up and also sand down all the contacts to make them clean and it should work for you again

[@loripack6800]

I pulled off the starter to my 1950 Chevrolet Deluxe last night . I suspected the solenoid as the issue. I have replaced many in my lifetime. I watched you video . Did exactly as you instructed. The starter works perfect now !!! Thank you ! Mike Pack

[@alienaxe]

Awesome !!! .. glad to hear it . I learned this from an old man back in the 70s when my car died in the middle of the highway and he helped me push it to the side and help me remove the starter and fix it right there on the sidewalk.

[@lesliemclean4381]

Bingo!

[@PhillipGeske-xb8do]

Excellent video. No nonsense and straight to the point. Much appreciated sir 👍

[@halcollier80]

Thank you, I have an 83 chevy c20 I almost bought a new selinoid for today and found your video. I'll see how that works in the morning. I greatly appreciate it.

[@TylerFlora-p4k]

I do appreciate how thorough you was breaking it down but I wish you would have had like a little camera setting right above your work table facing down at what you was doing but I did find all the information and the way you explained it very useful and easy thank you

[@alienaxe]

@@TylerFlora-p4k Yes, thank you I do wish I had someone to follow me around closely to make these videos so I try and do the best I can on my own I hate the big production videos with music and all this stuff they put in it to make themselves look famous in their own minds I believe if you’re trying to teach someone how to do something you don’t need any distractions. You just need to get to the point and be thorough. I thank you very much for your comment

[@ericvitelli7113]

Wow! I dropped a wrench on the leads 0f mine on my 67 Camaro- it quit two days later- I went thru hell with tow damaged in shipment whole starts from Jegs(damn kids packing them). I wish I saw this video 1ST.

[@alienaxe]

Sometimes you can’t get the disc off the shaft because it doesn’t have a C clip, but you can clean it on the wire wheel and sand. It down smooth and it will work just as good.

[@mookandairin]

Finally someone who’s not trying to make a huge production out of a 3 min video. I never knew this trick and seeing how I gotta take out the starter anyway to change it, I am going to try this instead. Thank you for the video. Hopefully it saves me some cash. Thank you very much

[@alienaxe]

@@mookandairin thanks man. I feel the same way I ain’t got time for all the BS these people pump in the videos so they can make $.49 add music and make a production out of it like a rockstar. …… just a simple fact is all anybody needs to post. Ps. This is only for the old style 60s and 70s and 80s GM starters this can’t be done with the new stuff.

[@sparcotiel]

I knew it! Ive bought a Cadillac eldorado impulsively with a bad starter. I pulled it apart and I looked at it and figured I could try this. Your video convinced me! Thanks man your a life saver!

[@gatesyslots]

Hey Jesse, I can't tell you how many of these I have thrown away and replaced with an over the counter cheap replacement that were prob made overseas! I'm going to try this for sure, thanks for posting this video! I found a video on here how to re-seal my Saginaw PS box in my 72 K10 a few months ago and I was amazed how easy it was once you see a step by step video!

[@erniemenard7727]

Wonderful. I've been operating on borrowed time. I've had a new starter (A/C Delco) in the garage for a couple of months waiting to get around to it. This is the week, new front shacks, new rotors, pads, reconditioned the calipers, front crank seal, and today, the starter. Before I put that brand new starter in I'm going to try to recondition the solenoid of my current starter as you've demonstrated.

[@alienaxe]

I just want to be clear that this is for vintage cars only because the newer starters are not like this. And thank you.

[@erniemenard7727]

@@alienaxe It's a 98 C3500, the solenoid was just as you showed. It would've worked but I dropped and could not find a part, that part being the bushing or ferrule that the longest screw goes through into the solenoid, on this particular starter. I may have changed it once before, I would've used O'Reilly's.

[@alienaxe]

@@erniemenard7727 yes, that part can’t be purchased by it self. I think it only comes with a new solenoid dam sorry to hear that .

[@alienaxe]

@@erniemenard7727 I wanted to also let you know they make solenoids in 2 lengths …. The long one may not need that sleeve. And the screws and sleeves still come with it . So you cold try asking for a heavy duty solenoid for like a 67 Chevelle 396. Then you will have the screw and sleeve and an extra solenoid

[@jeffery672002]

What the...? That's awesome. I'm going to try this on my Kohler generator tomorrow! Thanks!

[@alienaxe]

Just an FYI, …..I don’t know what your generator solenoid looks like and my video is meant for vintage General Motors cars

[@jeffery672002]

@@alienaxe thanks for the warning.

[@jeffery672002]

@@alienaxe clearly, if it's different, it will be different, but if it's the same, then bingo!

[@327JohnnySS]

Great video and very informative. Straight to the point. Good job. 👍

[@jonmyers8046]

I've torn these things apart a million times and I never knew you could disassemble that plunger assembly and flip over the disc. Thanks for the info bud! 😁

[@alienaxe]

Jon , make sure you flip the stud 180° also 👍 so the disc is working off the new pad on the back of the stud.

[@jonmyers8046]

@@alienaxe Sounds good, thanks 👍😊

[@jonmyers8046]

I did it all and polished everything really clean and shiny too. It's like new like you said. Should work flawlessly now. Thanks bud

[@reddogroad2120]

Excellent Video! I remembered doing this years ago but had forgotten about those terminals. Thanks!

[@bobdrazba7211]

OMG my 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 just started doing that click click noise. Had to jump it to start it. Brand new battery a month ago thanks for sharing will definitely check this out. Thanks a million.

[@flashcar1]

Have great day master

[@jimmybaxter6163]

did them before been long time im like you not 25 no more GREAT job JIMMY

[@bryantsmith3372]

I had this happen on my 97 GMC sierra, I heard a grinding sound and I pulled off on to the side of the road and turned off my truck and took the key out of the ignition and the starter started cranking with the truck turned off and starter kept spinning the until I heard a pop and a small fire broke out, thankfully there was no serious damage to the truck.

[@williamstapleton3177]

I’m going to try this tonight, don’t doubt you one bit. Hoping it does work, thanks so much

[@alienaxe]

This is for Vintage Automobiles only as I do not believe you can do this on today’s starters

[@johnmoyse52]

That's awesome! You might have just saved me 300 bucks! Thanks man!

[@darrenmiller3614]

Thank you very much that was a excellent presentation video of how to fix something straightforward not another bunch of crap like a lot of people excellent excellent thank you very much look forward to seeing more videos from you

[@alienaxe]

Well thanks man I really appreciate it I really don’t do videos all the time it’s just when something comes up that I think I can put out there that people will benefit from I’ll make a video from my experiences

[@rrjsc]

This worked for me. Saved money! Thanks!

[@kennethseneca4312]

Now that was very educational

[@tomreyes4908]

My starter is not engaging when hot.. I slap the starter a couple of times with a hammer and it cranks. Was going to get a new starter but I'm gonna try this first.. Bet that's what's wrong with it.. Simple really.. Thanks for posting, good info..

[@busvanthecreepycarpetman9782]

Did this work? I have the same problem.

[@tomreyes4908]

@@busvanthecreepycarpetman9782 So, I took my starter apart and the brushes were worn down almost to the core. So I replaced it with an new one and will order a rebuild kit for the old one... use that as a spare.

[@johnsarab4500]

There may be a C shaped keeper under the spring - you will need pull it out (look at it, think - you will figure it out).

[@jesusfranko5119]

Also check if the coil is burned. Many times they are burned.

[@mado100mo3]

Brilliant!

[@rrtownsend6432]

Very nice. Thanks RT

[@ronaldsookoo4526]

You are great thank you good tips

[@alienaxe]

They used to teach us these things in automotive training school back in the 70s

[@carterslade3109]

Can this be done on a 2001 buick lesabre 3800 series 2 engine ?

[@Rusty-Brown_]

Oh my God I'm gonna try this this was a good video and a good tip I'm gonna watch some of your other videos I have subscribed to you Sir'cause I do a lot of work on chevy's and I'm gonna see what other neat stuff you could teach me I have an El Camino with a 350 in it i actually

[@davevan8864]

Thanks from a Ford guy......how do I seperate the solinoid from starter??

[@alienaxe]

If you’re talking about a Ford…… The solenoid is on the fender well and not on the starter If you’re talking about a GM like I have in my hand, there’s two screws that hold it onto the starter and one screw in the very front with a copper sleeve . Once you remove them, you twist the solenoid, and it will fall off in your hand, along with the spring that goes behind it.

[@davevan8864]

@@alienaxe My 46 Ford has a GM 350/350 combo....so Thanks

[@lindokuhlendzambo3427]

Thank you

[@Rusty-Brown_]

I actually wanna run a 350 CFM 2 barrel Holley carburetor with 61 main jets and see what kind of fuel economy I can get with it over my elderbrock 500 CFM 4 barrel

[@munya5060]

You're a genius

[@alienaxe]

These were the kind of things they used to teach us in school when I went to automotive training center it’s a shame they don’t teach this kind of stuff today on how to rebuild starters and alternators and solenoid’s and power steering pumps because everybody just throws them away and gets another one and parts stores don’t even carry the pieces to rebuild things anymore it’s a shame

[@munya5060]

@@alienaxe it's all about money. No repairs more money. Greedy corporates. Thank you for saving me loads on buying a new solenoid.

[@conniecostner9665]

Can this be done to a 98 Buick century limited?

[@alienaxe]

Hi Connie ! First, I need to know what size engine your car has so I lnow which starter is in your car… and then I can tell You more.

[@jacksmith632]

I know this is an older video, but will this work on a 2010 Sierra?

[@alienaxe]

No this is for only old vintage starters

[@jadesidhe2634]

Ty

[@russbonneau9152]

can the s terminal be replaced if stripped?

[@alienaxe]

@@russbonneau9152 only if you have another used unit for parts. You can’t buy those parts readily available over-the-counter

[@russbonneau9152]

@@alienaxe thank you

[@alienaxe]

@@russbonneau9152 if the terminal is tight against the housing and the threads are stripped, where you tighten down the terminal wire…… you could stack up washers and then put your wire on and then put the nut on to tighten it up because those studs on the S terminal are pretty long and have a lot of threads

[@russbonneau9152]

@@alienaxe i tried that but it could not tighten enough without being stripped again.

[@alienaxe]

@@russbonneau9152 keep stacking up washers until you get to the good part of the threads

[@rrjsc]

God I love You Tube

[@Nizzwell]

Brilliant 😂

[@mattzillarcworks6417]

Only if you could remove the ones on the gm’s. Would be nice

[@ShakirAuto067]

Good working sir 😊😊😊 support me sir 😊😊

[@bobdrazba7211]

OMG my 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 just started doing that click click noise. Had to jump it to start it. Brand new battery a month ago thanks for sharing will definitely check this out. Thanks a million.

[@alienaxe]

This is for old vintage cars

[@bobdrazba7211]

OMG my 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 just started doing that click click noise. Had to jump it to start it. Brand new battery a month ago thanks for sharing will definitely check this out. Thanks a million.

[@guitarguy3221]

Did this ever work out for you? I have the same truck with a sheared solenoid bolt. They don't sell decent solenoids for the 5.3l on autozone/amazon etc

[@alienaxe]

This message is only for older vintage cars I don’t believe the new solenoids can be done like this

[@guitarguy3221]

@@alienaxe thanks for the reply. That's what I was thinking