starter kicks out 99 suburban

[alex40]

HELP MY 99 SUBURBAN IS KILLING ME...
My wife broke down on the highway and we had it towed to the shop, the mechanic said the rotor came off and he replaced it. We drove it home and it ran fine, the next day same problem seemed like timing to me. the # 1 spark plug wire was off when i put it back on i had to crank it for a while then it started and ran fine for a couple of days. tried to start it and the starter was grinding then it would not engage. i assumed the starter was bad and replaced it. turned out the engine was kicking back and broke a starter bolt and cracked the block at the bolt holes. replaced the crank sensor ran fine for a day then same crap. wont start and as soon as engine fires after long cranking and starter kicks out. i replaced the crank sensor again and the ignition module and it still won't start.
somebody please tell me what i need to do
Alex

[Blue Bowtie]

Welcome Aboard!

It's not going to be pretty, but you need to either repair the starter mounting pad or replace the block. Then you need to find out why the timing is so far off. Which crank sensor did you replace? The one at the bottom of the timing cover?

Once the starter mount holes are broken out, the block is trashed unless you can find a welder to build up the area, retap the holes, and flatten the pad.

Build up the broken out area:



Pien it for stress relief:



Scrape the starter mounting area flat and true:



Check starter gear engagement:

[alex40]

thanks for the reply, i changed the sensor at the bottom of the timing chain cover. today i brought the mark on the harmonic balancer around to the top, pulled the distributor cap off and the rotor was pointing a # 8. ( i don't know if the mech. at the gas station pulled the distributor out this time but when it was in there before he said it was off and he fixed it.) I jammed a screwdriver behind the starter and it does not kick out now, it fires but it still won't srart.

if you can think of anything please let me know.

thanks,
alex

[Blue Bowtie]

If you're certain the crank is at TDC on the #1 cylinder, you need to phase the distributor with the rotor. There is a "cam position sensor" in the distributor which must be in phase with the crank position sensor (the one you replaced). There should never be a need to remove the distributor, but since it has already ben done, you need to put it back.

[alex40]

can you tell me how to phase these parts ?