308QV starter?

Yep, they fail. Mine had already been replaced by a 328 starter, which apparently is slightly smaller. I say that, because there are horror stories about getting the damn thing out, but mine popped out, no worries. Anyway, don't fix it. Replace it with a gear reduction starter - a really nice upgrade.

 

IF it clicks but the engine doesn't spin, that's usually a battery or cable connection issue. Check the starter cable for poor connections at both ends and the main ground cable to be sure they are not causing the problem.

You probably already know that an old or defectuve battery can show fully charged - 12.6V or thereabouts - but have insufficient capacity to actually spin a starter motor. Poor cable connections can cause the same thing.

Good possibility it's the battery or the connections, not the starter.

 

If it is the starter, I'm in the middle of making an adapter plate for a Chevy PMGR mini starter and can make a few extra if there is interest (should be about $40 if I get some cut by waterjet.) You can then get a new Chinese starter for $50-60 or an AC Delco or Bosch unit for $200 to use with the adapter. Send me a PM if interested but try a different battery first and check the earth strap and big power cable onto the solenoid.

 

A little off topic but I have a 1 ton truck....old U-Haul that I use for working on my rentals. Same thing, turn key and it clicks. Try it ten or fifteen times and the starter will engage. I already put a new battery in and still the same problem. I guess clean contacts first. Any other suggestions.

 

Remove starter
Take to repair shop
It's a bosch part
All I needed was a solenoid
$30 out the door

 

Your description could be caused by one of several failures. Take the starter out and test it. A battery and a set of jumper cables makes an easy test setup.
My QV starter failed last year. The gear drive froze up. It would not turn over at all. The parts are readily available. I think it cost about $30-40 dollars. I don't see any reason to replace it if you have a reputable starter/alternator shop nearby who can replace the defective part.

 

Turn on the headlights and try to start. If the lights get very dim or go out, you may have a defective battery. Also check the voltage at the battery across the terminals. If you get 12 volts, you have a connection issue (probably at the battery).

Good luck.

 

This happened to me also (3 years ago) - started the car normally, drove 20 minutes and stopped, when I came back - a good strong CLICK, but no rotations! The starter had siezed solid, when I removed it it wouldn't budge.

I decided against rebuilding the original starter, I installed the Gustaffson gear reduction starter instead. It spins the engine faster, and has been flawless. There are a lot of prior posts about this starter option.

 

If your battery and earth straps are good, put a multi-meter positive clip onto the output from the solenoid (fat cable going into the motor from the solenoid, not the big +12V cable bolted to the solenoid), put the com clip onto earth (something metal) and try the starter. If you get 12V going into the motor from the solenoid then the motor is bad (most likely worn brushes) and if not it is the solenoid switch.) If it's the solenoid switch you can usually take it apart to clean it but replacements are inexpensive.