A week ago I bought a 1930 Universal AD four-door sedan (all original). When I purchased the car, it cranked but wouldn't start. I trailered it home, and once in the driveway, I was able to start it right up and drove it around the block a few times. I pulled it back into the driveway and shut it off. An hour later, I went to start it again to put it in the garage. The car started, and then it bumped forward a little and died. I attempted to restart it, and the starter button on the floor did nothing. The amperage gauge will move when pushing the button, but nothing else happens. Intermittently, I can hear a light pop at the starter when activating the button, but only once or twice, and then that goes away too. I also have to add that during the restart, I continued to push the starter button after the engine started, because I didn't realize the engine had turned over. I have replaced the battery that tested bad and also fixed a wire terminal that was broken, but still no luck when pushing the starter button. My best guess is the starter is shot, but before I pull the starter and try getting it rebuilt, I want to make sure that I am not missing something. Any help is appreciated. I am definitely a novice when it comes to mechanics, and this is my first vintage chevy and stove bolt 6, but I am looking forward to working and learning with this car.
I’ve had a starter drive bind on the flywheel and rock the car in gear would not free it, only way I got it was take the starter loose. It’s happen a few times on my 28 and also on the 30 we used to have.
Your starter drive might be jammed into the flywheel ring gear. You might have damaged it when you continued to engage the stater with the engine running. You might also be lucky enough to lubricate it and have it work fine. To dis-engage the starter, if that is the problem, put the car in high gear and with the key off, physically roll the car backwards to turn the engine backwards. This should free up the starter. If this works, I would advise removing the starter to inspect and service the starter drive. GOOD LUCK.
