Starter Question

Ok, this is actually for my bros GMC Sonoma, but it's a general starter question.

The other day his truck decided not to start. ALl you heard when trying to crank it was the starting spinning. I took it out and took it to get tested. It tested fine, but we got a new one. I figured one of the gears was stripped and that when you apply pressure to it that it's too much then for it to spin.

We bought a new starter and I installed it. Worked right up. Last night, he had problems starting it again. It's been fine since we changed it until last night. After he moved it, it wouldnt start at all then.

This morning I go out there and try it myself and the starter clicks once, and then stops. I tried a whole bunch of times and it was the same. It just clicks like it's trying to turn the flywheel but it's stuck or something. I opened the hood and tried it and it started right up :screwy: . Crazy, I know. I moved the cars around and then turned it off and tried to turn it back on, and it did the same, just clicked once each time. Opened the hood, and this time it didn't turn over, it just clicked again.

I'm thinking that maybe the starter is a little off center possibly. So I'm going to redo it when I get home from work today. Any other ideas on what the problem might be? Anyone ever have this? Thanks.

Check for missing teeth on the flywheel/flex plate. Also check the alignment of the new starter to the flywheel/flex plate.

The flywheel teeth looked good when I had checked the first time. So it must be the alignment then?

Hopefully that's all it is. On some cars you have to shim it up so it's aligned properly. Were there any shims on the previous starter?

FYI, I'm writing this reply from the new laptop, while dropping what could be my most impressive deuce in recent memory. Best purchase I've made yet this year I think...

Hopefully that's all it is. On some cars you have to shim it up so it's aligned properly. Were there any shims on the previous starter?

FYI, I'm writing this reply from the new laptop, while dropping what could be my most impressive deuce in recent memory. Best purchase I've made yet this year I think...


Too much info there Kev. But thanks for sharing. I can go off to work right now knowing that you're feeling better in about 10 minutes. My day is complete. :smooch: :smooch:

I dont remember any shim. I remember 3 bolts. That's all. Ill try again when I get home. Bye all

FYI, I'm writing this reply from the new laptop, while dropping what could be my most impressive deuce in recent memory. Best purchase I've made yet this year I think...

:uhoh: :uhoh: :lol: :lol:

David, you'll probably have to try shim it back a little bit. Just go to a parts store and ask for a shim for that starter. And make sure the battery cables and cleaned and connected properly, that could be what's causing the "clicking" noise (possibly?)

OK so I tried playing with the shims today and I get nothing. I'm pissed bc my bro needs the truck badly. I dont know where these things are supposed to be at. There's 2 long bolt things on the starter and the book says to check measurement with the tranny off... yeah right. I'm trying to get in touch with my mechanic right now trying to see if he'll make a house call tm or so. Any other ideas. Oh, and I'm now taking donations on all tools laying around your garages. I need good tools badly. Thanks

^^Start by adding a full lenght shim at a time. If you are able to start it, and it whines add more full length shims. Don't use more than four.

If it grinds when you try to start it, remove a full length shim, or add a half shim to the outboard pad.

Clicking always makes me think battery.

What exactly are the shims? Here's what I have. The starter has 2 bolts that go up through it to hold it onto the tranny. There is then 2 long bolts that extend the length of the starter. It's a 10mm at the end. It looks like if I tighten them, it's supposed to move the starter, but maybe I'm looking at it wrong. How do I do this? What exactly are the shims?

The shim is a thin piece of metal that is the same length, and width as the starter mounting pad, and it has two holes that match the two starter bolts. It goes between the starter and the block to position the starter correctly.