Hello everyone,
My name is Zach and i have a 1989 Silverado K1500 4x4 with a 5.7, I am have a starting problem and cant figure it out. Truck starts perfect and drives great most of the time sometimes it has a bit of a jumpy idle amost to the point it dies. but the starting issue is when i drive about 15 miles real hard or pulling a trailer stop and get out and the truck wont start back up. so i checked the obviouse battery conections where good, so i tapped on the starter solenoid and it started up. so i changed the solenoid and it still does it, any help or ideas will be great thank you
Zach

 

Zach, you may have what is called a heat sink problem. Do you have headers? Even if you don't, Google or look up the term Heat Sink......it has to do with the starter getting so hot it cannot spin until it cools down. Wrapping the starter with heat shield is usually the cure. It may, or may not be your problem but it would be good to educate yourself on the term in case it is.

 

Thanks for the input man ill look in to it when i first got the truck it didnt have the heat shield on the starter and burned a hole in the starter solenoid. so i put one on it and it still didnt fix it. and no i dont have headers

 

I had a old Dodge ram that did the same thing. Ended up being the starter.

 

is the starter oil soaked? I agree that this is a possible heat issue and with oil in it also it allows the windings in the starter to expand when they get hot and the starter is locked untill it cools. I have had lots of chevys over the years and the only resolution I have found for this once it starts is to replace the starter. even with a heat sheild or wrap it will continue untill the starter just dies.