Starting Issues

[kissfan007]

I have a 95 Lumina 3.1L. I just put a new starter on about a month ago, and now I'm starting to hear a strange noise that I hadn't heard before. I don't really know how to describe the sound...it's kinda like...metal rings rubbing together...I'm not sure if that's gonna help. I've also noticed that my mom's Pontiac Montana does the same thing, and it's also having a hard time starting.

Any help would be wonderful.

[robyrob]

there are two versions of that starter - a "shim" and a "no-shim" version ; the only way to tell is by measuring (84mm long bolt mount for no-shim, or 82mm for "shim" version), or if its the "no-shim" it will sometimes have "no shim" printed on the left side of the drive-end housing near the solenoid. If you have a "shim" version it MUST have a 2mm thick shim, if you have a "no-shim" it must NOT.

other than that you could have a damaged flywheel or drive gear clutch that is making the noise, when you say that it is having trouble starting, what is it actually doing?

[JohnFrisco]

Was it a new starter or rebuilt? I have heard lots of trouble with rebuilt starters.

Fix it soon or you will ruin your flywheel.