Replacing the starter

[Firstymer]

Greetings ladies/gentlemen,

I wanted to inform you guys I successfully replaced my starter on my vehicle: 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.1L, 130,600km. I have a few questions to ask in regards to the starter. When I replaced the old starter with the re-manufactured one from Auto Zone, I noticed the package came with starter shims (4 sheets to be exact). I did not include any of the starter shims along with installation of the re-manufactured starter because it was quite similar to the original one. I noticed a slight whishing sound when I start up my car. Though, the car starts right up but I am concern about that sound. Am I supposed to install the starter shims along with the re-manufactured starter? I was informed that re-manufactured starters can be slightly off from the OEM starters. Please advise.

Thanks!

[GTP Dad]

The shims are designed to help with adjustment of the starter. Sometimes there are differences in the sizes of the starters and the shims help to move it up or down so that the teeth on the starter gear contact the flywheel properly. If the starter operates properly then I wouldn't install the shims. If the whine bothers you you may want to try one set of shims to see if it improves the function of the starter. If the whine goes away, great, if it doesn't or it gets worse then remove the shims and reinstall the starter without them. I generally always used the starter with the shims that came off the OEM starter but as you said they often don't have them so they aren't needed in the first place. Good Luck!

[Firstymer]

Well, I believe the starter shims comes with four sheets of thin metal in the set. I have no idea on how much I should include in the installation. Thanks for the advice GTP Dad!!

[GTP Dad]

This is usually a trial and error process. Loosen the stater until it drops down slightly and then place one shim between the surfaces. Re-tighten and try the starter. If it sound better leave it alone. If it sounds worse then remove the shim and re-tighten.

[tblake]

Sometimes starters come with a small allen wrench of the correct thickness you use as a guage between the starter drive and flywheel. If it fits without shims don't add any. I forget the size of the allen wrench though. 1/8 inch sounds right if my memory serves me correctly.

[richtazz]

On GM pad mount starters, machining of the starter nosecone assembly during the remanufacturing process may require the use of a shim to align the new starter correctly even if the old starter had none. If you are getting a whining noise as the starter engages or disengages, you need to shim it. Failure to do so can result in premature failure or a broken nose cone. Start with the thinnest shim and work your way to thicker until the noise is eliminated. From what you describe the noise is minor, so a .015" thick shim should do the trick. If I remember correctly, .030" clearance (about the thickness of a standard paper clip) between the end of the starter drive tooth and the gap between the flywheel teeth is recommended, but getting in there to actually measure can be difficult. It requires removing the power wire to the starter motor from the solenoid so you can kick the starter drive gear into the flywheel without having the starter actually spin. The trial and error method going from thinnest to thickest shim until no more noise is heard is the simplest.