5.7 Intermittent starter click

[Strecker25]

Hi guys, on one of our 98 5.7 EFI's I have a new intermittent starting issue. If I press the ignition, especially on a cold start, I hear a click. If I turn the switch off and back on the starter engages and cranks strong and starts the motor. Turning the engine off, giving it a few minutes, and trying again I have to again engage the switch (hear the click) turn the switch off then back on and the motor fires. Connections are tight at both battery and starter.

I ordered a new slave solenoid, am I headed in the right direction? I wasnt able to verify where the click comes from but I believe it to be up top at the slave solenoid.

Of course we have a big trip coming up Wednesday so this had to become an issue now

Thanks everyone

 

[Scott Danforth]

a few things that can cause the starter to click, then work fine. none of them require waiting a few minutes

it could be your bendix pushing the pinion tooth directly onto a ring gear tooth. then the next time it moves just enough to engage - not much to do about this
it could be the bendix solenoid on the starter is carbon arced and not always making contact - this would require a new bendix solenoid (starter must come out)
it could be your pilot relay is corroded or carbon arced and not always making contact - this would require a new pilot solenoid

you basically need to identify what is going click.

 

[Strecker25]

Thanks Scott. I will get down there today and verify where the clicking is coming from. I do believe it was from the top of the motor where the slave/50a breaker is. It is a "soft" click.

 

[Bondo]

Connections are tight at both battery and starter.

Ayuh,.... Tight don't mean corrosion free,....

Pull apart those connections, as well as the rest of the "Start" circuit, sand 'em to shiny metal Clean, 'n reassemble 'em,.....

I coat 'em with grease to keep 'em corrosion free,....

 

[Strecker25]

Thanks guys. I replaced the slave solenoid tonight and all is well. The ring terminals were just a bit chalky so I cleaned them up nice. The combination of the slave solenoid and fixing the connections has her cranking on the first try now.