# Curious starter problem

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/curious-starter-problem/35060>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** pontiac, firebird\
**Created:** [August 14, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/curious-starter-problem/35060 "2009-08-14T19:00:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Shadowfax333](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax333/32/1393_2.png) [@Shadowfax333](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Shadowfax333)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/curious-starter-problem/35060/1 "2009-08-14T19:00:24Z")

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Years ago, a lady friend had bought a used 1967 Firebird 400CI, 3spd. that the former owner had hot rodded.(solid lifter Crane Cam). After driving for about a year after I had reset the rocker lash to specs and WOKE UP the engine, she informed me that the starter had quit. After pulling the Starter/solenoid four successive times (this was before auto store testing), I was reinstalling the battery cables when the radio suddenly blared! I had forgotten that I had left it turned up along with the headlight high beams and blower fan when I checked the low drain battery loading prior to the last starter R&R. Inspecting the bolt-on battery terminals I found that corrosion had built up INSIDE the cable itself. Thankfully there was enough cable to trim back about 1" and reinstall. Starter problem CURED.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/curious-starter-problem/35060/2 "2009-08-14T19:28:51Z")

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Thanks for the tip.

I’ve also seen side mounted battery posts broken inside the battery case and causing intermittant problems.