probably a dumb question, but I have to ask....

I think what you may be remembering is an old saying about tires not starters. It wouldn't hurt to remove the starter and disassemble, clean and lube the bushings. The lubrication will dry out given enough time. Other than that, electrical connections are the most likely thing to deteriorate with time.

-jim

I normally hear the term flat spots used more for tires, but a starter can develop a dead spot.

Two common things I see that could be happening to you (outside of a battery issue)

The starter solenoid could be failing or the circuit feeding it.

The starter itself can get a dead spot or have worn brushes. You have carbon brushes in the body of the starter that are held against the commutator by spring pressure. Here is a picture of a commutator

Each of thosepieces of copper is an individual circuit. If one fails the starterwill be a bit weaker but you would probably never notice when it wasspinning. If one fails and the starter happens to stop so that thebrush is against only that one circuit then the starter won't spinnext time you crank. I don't think this is your problem though asyou normally have to do something to cause the starter to move alittle before it will work again. In this case I would do two things. First go through and clean all the connections up good including those on the neutral safety switch if it is an automatic. Second get a cheap digital volt meter so you can check the voltage next time it doesn't start.

Steve B.

commutator

Each of those> pieces of copper is an individual circuit. If one fails the starter> will be a bit weaker but you would probably never notice when it was> spinning. If one fails and the starter happens to stop so that the> brush is against only that one circuit then the starter won't spin> next time you crank. I don't think this is your problem though as> you normally have to do something to cause the starter to move a> little before it will work again.>

Yes - thanks - your replies make perfect sense. As I say - I usually have battery issues, but it is not a new car and I expect other things (namely connections, solenoids, etc) to deteriorate with time.

Thanks for the clarification about the starter dead spot... versus.... flat spot.

Could you direct me to the neutral safety switch location you mention so I can clean it up properly as well?

regards.

Trickle charge the battery, as well.

But a battery with a bad cell won't (usually) recover like that.

That's MY number one guess- bad connection at a battery terminal.

and I have heard that a starter can

A starter can have one winding on the armature burn out so that if one of the brushes happens to land on EXACTLY that one element in the commutator, the starter won't run. But it has nothing to do with sitting. And also, MOST starters from the last 50 years or so have 4 brushes so that it would take TWO dead windings at EXACTLY the right orientation relative to each other to make the starter completely inoperative. One dead winding would only make it weak in that particular spot. Short story- I don't think you have a starter problem.

Not without a make and model more specific than "an older car." :-)

Obviously! My apologies - I got confused between forums.

The patient in question is a 1976 corvette stingray L-48 350 (ex) smogger with auto. I suspect it may be enclosed in the center console, but am not sure and have no idea what to look for.

regards.

it might be the ignition switch or any of the other things. not all the way in park, the solenoid, a dead spot on the starter, a loose battery connection.