My rig is a 1998 2 door 4wd with about 250k on the clock. About a year ago I had my original AC Delco starter rebuilt at a shop in my town, changed the solenoid too. It was turning over at about half speed. Shop said many of the welds on the comm were broken. Worked great for a year. Now a year later the starter grinds on the flex plate but only every once in a while. Maybe once every three or four days. Sounds just like when you turn the key to start when the engine is already running. It always starts fine on the next turn of the key. Any ideas?
starter problems
- Thread starter willxfs
- Start date
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SunlitComet
OBS Jedi-Do Good
the sliding drive system on the start may just be getting stuck on its shaft from dirt and debris. you could try disassemble to clean it up and maybe lube it.
Thanks. Will give that a shot. Wondering that while I have the starter down if it would be advisable to inspect the flex plate teeth. I'm sure I'll have to pull the spark plugs and turn the motor with a wrench to do this.
SunlitComet
OBS Jedi-Do Good
you can do it with the plugs in as well.
Here's an update. The starter grinding got very infrequent for a while. Now a year later, it grinds almost once per day. I bought a new AC Delco drive/pinion gear/bendix for the starter. I installed it and lubed up the shaft. Starter is still grinding on the flex plate. I also put on a spare solenoid that I had from a while back-AC delco part. No luck. Still grinds once per day now.
As a side note, when I broke the starter down, the commutator I thought was replaced two years ago because of broken welds where brushes touch the comm, looks old as shit. It spins over great. The brushes look new. Any thoughts.
In retrospect, I should have bought a bran new AC Delco starter from Amazon for 110 bucks two years ago. At least I would know that its probably not the starter screwing up. Now I'm out $75 for the starter repair two years ago, $40 for a new solenoid two years ago and $40 for the new bendix last week. Still cant say for certain if its the starter or fly wheel teeth causing the problem. Crap! Any advice?
As a side note, when I broke the starter down, the commutator I thought was replaced two years ago because of broken welds where brushes touch the comm, looks old as shit. It spins over great. The brushes look new. Any thoughts.
In retrospect, I should have bought a bran new AC Delco starter from Amazon for 110 bucks two years ago. At least I would know that its probably not the starter screwing up. Now I'm out $75 for the starter repair two years ago, $40 for a new solenoid two years ago and $40 for the new bendix last week. Still cant say for certain if its the starter or fly wheel teeth causing the problem. Crap! Any advice?
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SunlitComet
OBS Jedi-Do Good
may have to get a starter and find out. Any cracks on the mounting bosses where the starter goes?
You are still going to want to inspect the teeth of the flex plate for any damage. If there is damage then that can damage the gear on starter over time. It takes to sets of teeth to make a grinding noise.
SunlitComet
OBS Jedi-Do Good
you mean worn teeth?
ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)
Full Access Member
part of the teeth for the flex plate are warn off i had a 74 blazer that did the same thing i had to replace both starter and flex plate
Yeah, teeth on flex plate are fairly beet up from all the grinding. I'll definitely replace the flex plate in the near future. Thinking of pulling the old worn out 350 with 260k on the clock and going with a new one from jegs.
ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)
Full Access Member
thats what id probably do then youd have a n old 350 to rebuild as a project motor
