Well, I'm stumpped! I just gone done putting a replacement engine in my '87 Monte SS, and I'm now having trouble getting it to start. The problem seems to be electrical, but I can't really figure it out. The car starts fine when I have the battery charger on it, and runs great once I get it started!, but for some reason it'll only start when the charger is on.

I've replaced the battery, thinking that was the problem, but the new one does the same thing. The strange thing is, all the other electronics work, lights, radio, horn, alarm, etc... but it won't turn the starter without the car charger! I'd change out the starter, but the starter seems to work fine with the charger on it.

My thought is that for some reason, the starter is pulling more amps than the battery can supply, the car charger picks up the slack, and allows it to start. Could it be that I have something shorting out? I'm at a loss, so any help you can provide would be really apprciated! I really wanna drive this thing!

 

sounds like a loose connection to me. check the tightness at the starter and battery and check the tightness of the clamps themselves

 

Check to make sure all your Grounds are tight and clean. double check all wiring from the batt. to the starter. What did you put in? 350? use the same starter? What else did you change.

 

Maybe check to see if your starter is adjusted too tight against the flexplate.I dont think this would make your car not start altogether, but it could definately cause more load on the starter ifthe gear meshwas REAL tight.How does the starter sound when you start it with the battery charger on it?

 

The starter sounds great when it works. Sounds like it's spinning quick, and turns the motor over with little effort. I actually put another 305 back in it. The original spun a rod bearing, and I had a spare 305 from a previous accident.... The starter is the same one that came off the car, I had replaced that a few months before taking the car off the road. However, the car has been sitting for awhile (a year) so I don't know if something could have seized up in there? Like I said, the starter works great when it works... it's just getting it to work that's the issue. - Could it possibly something be wrong with the solenoid, not the actual starter?

 

Ok you can try this: Start the car up with the battery charger, remove the battery charger, and let the car run for about 5 minutes. Then shut the car off, andimmediately try to start the car up without the battery charger on it.

Here's my thought behind this: There could possibly be a parasitic drain on your electrical system. After it sits for a while, this could cause enough drain on the battery to make it not start. It could have enough left in it to power your lights, stereo, etc, Just not enough for the large strain of the starter motor.

If this is in fact the problem, the alternator should be able to charge it enough in the 5 minutes you let it run for, and it should start right back up.

Hope this helps...

 

Sounds like a timing issue. Start the engine and check to see what your timing is set at.