How could the timing of this be any worse!?!?!?

The Caprice made me look like a FOOL today. I was at my Mom & step-Dad's for the 4th and I brought the Caprice, and I was even wearing my '10 WF shirt. So my step-Dad and I started talking and he was telling me he's going to be ordering a built to order tri-maran sail boat soon. It'll take 9 months from when the order is placed to delivery, and he needs a tow vehicle. He said he knew he would need something big, (boat plus trailer will be a bit under 5,000lbs) but he didn't want an SUV and trucks are just too expensive. Then it dawned on us, an LT1 B-body wagon would be perfect for what he needs, and cheaper than a truck too! He always thought these wagons looked cool, and he appreciates the utility and versatility of wagons in general (he's had various 4-banger wagons for the last 20 years) he just didn't realize how powerful the stock engines were. So he told me to keep an eye out for a tow pack equipped LT1 wagon, with low miles and top price of around $5,000. Anyway, at this point I was about to go and was sitting in my car talking to him out the window about how great these cars are, and how a lot of people use them to tow and how great they are for it, and how reliable they are, and he was really into it. So then I go to start my car (with him standing there), it does one half-assed crank then nothing. No visible draw on the dome light when I held it in "start", so I knew I was boned. I checked the battery anyway, it was fine, I checked for power at the solenoid, everything was normal, so it appeared my solenoid quit. We tried beating it with a hammer, which only made it worse; broke the plastic part solenoid completely. What are the odds of this thing dying right in front of someone I just talked into buying one of these cars! And on the 4th of July so no stores are open! So I'm stuck here overnight at their house, and tomorrow morning he's going to drive me to the store so I can get a Corvette starter (cheaper, better, AND in stock!). I pulled the old starter out, man, did I mangle that thing good. Broke parts off the aluminum housing on the starter 'cause I beat the solenoid so hard! But I don't even care; it was some rusty-ass reman that just said "MADE IN CHINA- REMANUFACTURED" on it and nothing else. Silver lining in this cloud is that it broke in their driveway and not out somewhere, or worse -on the way to NY where it will be going next week so my Aunt can borrow it.

now you can go get a vett starter at autozone. see a positive note

mtrhead79 wrote:

now you can go get a vett starter at autozone. see a positive note

Yes, I do look forward to that! I couldn't even get a stock B-body LT1 starter tomorrow if I wanted. All the places 'round here don't stock them (but they stock the vette starters, go figure!)

Doesn't matter what car you own, starters die. Even more so on 17 year old cars.

Bill

use a 305 starter with the correct bolts,. works fine is cheaper and easier to find,.
JMHO

nick

It was bound to happen, hopefully he still wants one of these cars. I blame a combo of China and the rust that is the under carriage of that car. But look at it this way, its better to die in your hands than your aunt's.

convert2diesel wrote:

Doesn't matter what car you own, starters die. Even more so on 17 year old cars.

Bill

Yeah, I know, and he knows that too. Just rotten timing for it to die. One of the things he was orginally worried about was that the newest of these is 15 years old. He was however pleased to see it only took about 5 minutes to get the starter out. He didn't give me any grief about it failing, so I think he's still on board... Besides an SUV, pickup, or one of these wagons, what even is there to tow with? I guess maybe a Crown Vic or MGM, but he needs more room for crap then a sedan can provide. Plus, as he says, with one of these wagons, he could use it for Home Depot trips and the like, and not have to bother me for one of of my vehicles.

phantom 309 wrote:

use a 305 starter with the correct bolts,. works fine is cheaper and easier to find,.
JMHO

nick

Hmmm... didn't know that would fit. Which year/vehicle 305 starter should I look for? And I'd need what, shorter bolts?

just get the corvette starter with the lifetime warranty....

Well, found that a Corvette starter was my ONLY in stock choice, and I had a coupon, so I got a Remy one for like $85. Thank goodness it was an easy and quick (once I got a starter) repair. Sucks to have your cars fail at other peoples houses, but better than the side of some road somewhere. New starter sounds a lot better too.

I had a starter go out on my 83 Jaguar about 250 miles from home on a holiday weekend. Left the car at my sister's rented a car to come home with along with the starter. got the part, rented another car next weekend drove back across the state to find out Discount Auto boned me with the wrong starter. Oh it bolted right up but the cog to engage the flywheel had a different tooth count. MF!!! Rented another car and drove 90 MPH on back country roads at 1AM VERY PISSED.

Following weekend went back with the right starter and finally got it home and about 500 dollah lighter in the pocket......

Ah the joys of old car ownership!Always a challenge and never never easy.

sprocket why did you buy a $500.00 cigarette lighter