S-10 Blazer Starter 'Clicks'

[FRS2004]

I have a 1991 S-10 Blazer with the 4.3L TBI engine with 134,000 mi and the starter(I assume it's the starter) makes a fast repetetive clicking sound when I start it. This only occurs when I have the key pressed all the way forward; once the engine catches and I let go, the clicking ceases and it runs fine.

The reasons I don't go ahead and have the starter replaced are
1)the engine still seems to turn over fine

2)the noise has not been constant, sometimes I'll start it and it'll be fine, other times it makes the strange clicking sound.

3) The starter was replaced around 110,000 mi, so I would expect it to still be good....

Might there just be some crud on the bendix, preventing it from engaging fully, or am I dreaming?

Or could something like this be caused by a stripped or worn flywheel?

any ideas?

[GMMerlin]

While you hear the clicking sound, does the engine spin over slower than usual?
I would load test the battery first and check the cables.
Next would be a starter load test to see how many amps the starter is drawing.
usually clicking while trying to start indicates a weak battery or not enough current to the starter.

[FRS2004]

The engine seems to turn over at the normal speed...
I kind of know what that kind of clicking sounds like and I don't think it's that.

I'll try starting it jumped to see if the batery could be at fault.

Thanks

[FRS2004]

Starting it jumped did nothing...still clicks.

While Iwas under the hood I put my hand on the starter housing and had my father turn it over a few times. The clicking is definately coming form in there. I'm think the bendix must be slipping against the flywheel or something. :sad:

Since it still starts do you think I could delay getting the starter replaced (We tried to do it once, but it is not worth the aggrivation to do it ourselves) or do you think the slipping bendix will damage my flywheel, eventually forcing me to replace that too?

[GMMerlin]

Well clicking is not a normal sound from a starter...I would say replace the starter before it puts you into "tennis shoe" mode.

Look closely at the teeth on the flywheel before installing the new starter

[FRS2004]

Do you think I could just replace the bendix, since the starter has only 24,000 mi on it....or do you think it would be better to simply replace the whole shabang at once?

[julahti]

Greetings from Finland!

I just bought a '95 4.3 S-10 Blazer, and my starter does excactly the same. When I start the car, the starter makes fast repetitive clicking noise until I release the key and the engine runs.

There is no problem with slow starter or anything else, it just simply makes the noise; no other problems. It is not the usual "dead battery" click; engine turns over just fine.

So what is it and can it be fixed without replacing the whole starter?

[sreed25570]

personaly have the starter rebuilt (cheaper than new and just as good) and take a screwdriver and rotate the flywheel make sure no teeth are chipped or broken

[ASE Tech1457]

my advice is take it to a shop and ask them what they think, inspections are usually free! could be that the starter isnt spaced right, did this happen all of a sudden or did it get gradually worse? who put in the starter at 110000? you cant get just the bendix and having your starter rebuilt is just stupid go to napa and pay for a good lifetime starter hardly anyone rebuilds starters anymore its not worth it you will pay just as much in labor as you would a new one.