Can't find my starter

[lisagee58]

Hi everyone. Nice to meet you all ) I have an older RV 1983 Winnebago Brave Chevy 454 /7.9. I can't find the starter. A friend came over the weekend tried to start it and nothing. He was a mechanic  all his life and he's worked on Chevelles which apparently had the same engine for years until it was discontinued. Most of you guys probably know what I'm talkin about. So he jumped the solenoid and realized it was working with a fully charged battery. He said the next step would be the starter but he could not find it and now he went back home which is far away so now I'm on my own. I don't know when he'll be back next. I use my RV to rent it out and I'm in a pickle because I live with a disability and that is my only income. So I am in an ASAP situation to supplement my income or I may not have my home much longer. I've even put an add on craigslist for free rent if anyone can come help me fix it. Right now I am more interested in finding out where the starter is and the pollution pump pulley broke and he said I should just find a belt that fits the other two parts that original belt went around. That we didn't need the pollution pump. So now I am trying to get down into the engine and tie string then try to find the size of that belt that will be close to what I need. 2 complicated problems. And I'm not a young girl anymore. Watch out if I was I'd have this thing fixed and ready.lol, but those days are gone. Would anyone know where the starter is on this coach???Thank you. Lisa G

 

[ronster]

The starter on a 454 is on the passenger side with a gm trans.

 

[cavie]

I'm amazed he could not find it. All starters are on the bottom left or right side. As stated probably on right side down low between the rear of the motor and the transmission. Should be able to see it from the top but will have to remove from the bottom. As for the air pump you need a mechanic for that.  Sounds like you need one anyway.

 

[TheBar]

I had a Winnie class A gasser about that age but with the Chrysler 440. To make for more legroom in the cab the engine was really packed in there tight. It can be a daunting task even on some cars and pickups with the big block engines. The exhaust collectors, transmission cooling lines, gas lines, and wiring probably run under the starter so it might be too tight to even see the starter. Or your friend may have been able to see the starter but meant it was beyond his capabilities to get it out.

 

[lynnmor]

I believe that the solenoid is part of the starter on your engine.  Nothing makes sense about the "mechanic" jumping the solenoid and not finding a starter. 

Is this the pulley you need?  https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=971929&cc=1059139&jsn=442

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I think you need a better mechanic. The starter is mounted on the engine and all 454 Chevy engines have it in the same place, so if he had experience with them he would know where to look.  And if he found the solenoid, the starter is either adjacent to it or at the end of a short wire cable from the solenoid.

You stated "So he jumped the solenoid and realized it was working with a fully charged battery".  Did "jumping the solenoid" get the engine started, or at least cranking? If so, the starter is probably fine.

I realize you aren't a mechanic and may have misunderstood what your helper said, so maybe you need someone else to take a look at it and then explain better what is needed.  Replacing a starter is not difficult and most anyone handy with tools could do it. However, at this point its not clear that is needed.

 

[SpencerPJ]

Lisa, I recommend that you never call that friend a mechanic again.  Ever.  If he can not find a starter, he is not a mechanic, just sayin.  Maybe he just does not want to help you, but come on...

I also recommend that you call a local Mobile Mechanic, you might even be able to find a mobile mechanic on Craigslist.  What happens when you turn the key?  Nothing? or a click? 

 

[Tom]

Our P30 chassis with the 454 engine had 2 solenoids - one solenoid on the starter itself, and a primary (smaller) relay which was wired to the ignition/start switch. I could never find the primary solenoid which worked maybe once in 10 or more turns of the key. One weekend, our kids borrowed the coach to participate with their off-road racing team. One of their mechanics found and replaced the relay, hidden somewhere in the doghouse, and the engine always cranked on the first turn of the key after that.

All starters are on the bottom left or right side.

FWIW, probably irrelevant to this discussion ... on twin engine boats, the counter-rotating engine had the starter mounted at the top. This resulted in the engine being cranked in the opposite direction (correct for counter-rotation).

 

[catblaster]

  Lisa, like the previous suggestions.....get another mechanic, not a friend that says he's a mechanic. The starter solenoid on a GM is on top of the starter, if you see the solenoid you are then looking at the starter. My bet is he looked under the hood, saw a solenoid and thought it was for the starter. Jumped it and of course the starter didn't know what the heck he wanted to do so it just sat there laughing at him.  (I bet the starter said to the oil filter what the hell is this guy doin??) 

 

[Old_Crow]

Tom, that secondary solenoid(called the 'hot start relay')is usually mounted to the bracket that supports the oil dipstick tube.  That bracket bolts to one of the intake manifold bolts.  Remove the doghouse cover and it's on the passenger side toward the front of the motor right on top. 

As stated before, the starter(and it's attached solenoid)is on the passenger side below the exhaust manifold.

 

[Tom]

Thanks Wally. We sold/traded that coach 15 years ago, so hopefully I won't need to find that relay again.

 

[Old_Crow]

Might help the OP, though.
The dude from Canada with the Presidential P30 has really exercised my memory lately.  Really had to think for a lot of stuff that used to be right on the top of my head.  Guess that's what happens when you sell the P30 and buy an F53.

 

[Utclmjmpr]

Several years ago, when my wife owned a Cadillac El Dorado with the Northstar engine, the starter became intermittent and I began the hunt....No way I could find that damn starter!!
Went to my Cad dealer and found it's located INSIDE THE ENGINE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD!!...Also found it cost $300.00 from Bosch,,,just for the starter!!>>>Dan

 

[Old_Crow]

Weren't they fun?
Be glad you never had to change a heater core or a/c evaporator core on that Eldo.  The entire dash has to come out and half of the stuff on the outside of the firewall has to come off.  Took me like 3 days to tear it down and get it back together.  Paid about 8 hours as I remember.