Starter Issues

[RadeonX]

I'm having starter problems with my bravada, i bought the car about 2 months ago and at the time the owner said that he had just gotten the starter replaced. The problem is that when i go to start the car, the starter makes a very loud grounding noise. I haven't gotten a chance to pull the starter yet but i think the problem may be related to something else. The battery in it is rated at 550cca which seemed pretty small to me, not enough power causing the starter to do that maybe. Cap, rotor, and ignition switch were just changed. flywheel appears to be fine from the what ive looked at.

[Leeann94astro]

550 cca is pretty good - that's just the cold cranking amps. The full cranking amp amount will be something over 1000.

Off the top of my head, I can't think of what the starter problem is unless the bearing(s) in the new one are bad.

[RadeonX]

went through a few checks today. amperage to the starter is good. the Crank sensor is good. after looking around a little though it sounds like the torque converter could be loose. It makes a knocking noise behind the engine in the low RPM range, thinking that this may be causing the engine to kick back and cause the starter grinding

[Leeann94astro]

Hmmm...you know, we just bought a replacement (used) engine for our '93 Astro, and the flexplate's cracked pretty badly. He said it ran fine, but made noise he couldn't identify until he pulled the engine (to put in a 350).

Might be the same issue - as in a loose torque converter caused the flexplate to crack causing the knock, which would make the starter have to work harder...

[RadeonX]

ya, that definately could be a possibility guess i won't fund out untill i pull the tranny.

[Schrade]

Originally Posted by RadeonX

ya, that definately could be a possibility guess i won't fund out untill i pull the tranny.

You don't have to pull the tranny to inspect the flywheel, and find a broken flywheel tooth, which is what I think you've got. That is, if the grinding does NOT happen every time.

If it happens every time, you don't have missing flywheel teeth. Take the starter to Advance / Zone, and get it tested and inspected.

While it is out, disconnect the battery, put a breaker bar on the crankshaft hub nut, and get a friend to turn the engine while you watch the flywheel. You might see missing teeth. Watch also for cracks, forward / rearward motion...

[RadeonX]

The starters new and ive inspected the flywheel teeth through the opening on the ride side of the tranny, none broken. The starters grinding cause then engines kicking back or slipping somewhere

[Schrade]

Originally Posted by RadeonX

The starters new and ive inspected the flywheel teeth through the opening on the ride side of the tranny, none broken.

Copy on that - no broken choppers on the flywheel. How bout lateral movement of the flywheel, like from bein' loose, or any cracks?

Originally Posted by RadeonX

The starters grinding cause then engines kicking back or slipping somewhere

I ain't not understandin' that 'nary a bit... (no copy).
"The starter is grinding because the engine is kicking back or slipping somewhere." Is that what you are saying there?

The starter does not move in relation to the engine. It is bolted to the engine block (supposed to be anyway). If the flywheel is loose from the end of the crankshaft, I still don't think it could hit the starter, although it's remotely possible.

Check the flywheel again for shiny spots at the teeth faces, or looseness, and see if you can feel inside the bellhousing for metal shavings. Maybe reach in there with a rag or something. Maybe get a Q-tip in from underneath where there is a drain hole in the bellhousing.

[RadeonX]

lol no the starter isn't moving. im assuming the engine is kicking back because something inside the tranny is slipping, most likely the torque converter like i stated.

[RadeonX]

For removing the starter it looks like i need to remove the y pipe section of the exhaust? i can't really see any other way that it will be coming out. also i noticed that it looks like their might be some rust on the torque converter.

[RadeonX]

Well i finally got the starter out but i noticed that whoever worken on this car last, did a poor job. The exhaust was some how dented in two places, missing two bolts, the Driver side engine mount bolt was missing and it appears they tried to do a ghetto repair on the tranny oil line for the cooler. Its leaking and im wondering if this could possibally be effecting the pressure at idle which would cause the torque converter to not fully engage?