Starter issues, again.

[jdheff1982]

The starter on this truck has given me tons of grief. I have been thru 2 within a 2 to 3 week period. This last time, I replaced battery cabling with larger wiring. The starter starts fine, but in some cases, it grinds the fly wheel. When I try again, it'll turn the truck over. The battery has plenty of juice and the wiring is well connected.

The truck goes thru this weird starting cycle too. At times, the starter sounds very happy and I have no problems turning over the motor. Other times, the starter sounds like the juice is weak. And other times, it grinds the flywheel.

The starter is shimmed with 1 shim. The support bracket is missing that would support the back side of the starter. When I was under the truck last, the flywheel seemed to be in good shape. So, I am confused as to what could be causing the intermittent grinding.

[KQQL IT]

Bad teeth in the flywheel.

[Rogue_Alphonse]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

Bad teeth in the flywheel.

This, or the starter is getting too hot due to a hot engine or nearby exhaust downpipe.

[gchemist]

What is the bolt pattern of the starter? Check the battery to frame ground, engine to frame ground, and replace them or add more grounds.

[Desert1957]

Originally Posted by gchemist

Check the battery to frame ground, engine to frame ground, and replace them or add more grounds.

^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^

[motornut]

i had simular probs when i got 78
I did the starter and the flywheel
i didn't think mine looked to bad till i put it beside the new one

[mwooten92]

i have the same problem.. We did a motor swap in my truck and we kept the original starter and flywheel off my old motor. it cranked over very smooth and never had issues with it grinding.. the starter that was on our new motor was grinding the fly wheel really bad.. so we swapped te flywheel and starter out... first month of using the new starter and flywheel on the new motor there were no problems with it.. now its been about 4 months now and im starting to get this problem again....


I have a feeling my headers are getting the starter too hot and its getting weaker and not engaging correctly.. might need to make some sort of heat sheild?? Do you have headers?

hope this helps, Mike

[jdheff1982]

Originally Posted by mwooten92

i have the same problem.. We did a motor swap in my truck and we kept the original starter and flywheel off my old motor. it cranked over very smooth and never had issues with it grinding.. the starter that was on our new motor was grinding the fly wheel really bad.. so we swapped te flywheel and starter out... first month of using the new starter and flywheel on the new motor there were no problems with it.. now its been about 4 months now and im starting to get this problem again....


I have a feeling my headers are getting the starter too hot and its getting weaker and not engaging correctly.. might need to make some sort of heat sheild?? Do you have headers?

hope this helps, Mike

I do have headers. Now that I think about it. It seems when I do frequent on/off during the day, the starter starts acting weird depending on how long I ran the truck. The best sounding starts is the first start of the day. From there, it depends on how often the truck is driven.

I don't have any sort of heat shield on the headers. Is there a company that sells pre-fab'd shields? Since my truck has no cats, I can't exactly go to a muffler shop and have them make them.

[jdheff1982]

Originally Posted by Desert1957

^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^

Now there is something I have not thought about. The PO has a ground going from battery to alt bracket. Nothing from engine to frame.

I recently had to replace both pos and neg batt cable due to them burning up.

I will have to try that and see if it improves things.

[faribran]

i would say MOTORNUT is right on the money.

[mwooten92]

Originally Posted by jdheff1982

I don't have any sort of heat shield on the headers. Is there a company that sells pre-fab'd shields? Since my truck has no cats, I can't exactly go to a muffler shop and have them make them.

Yep.. same thing here.. first start of the day is usually the best.. if drive somewhere and shut it off then go to crank it.. it acts like it sometimes has a dead battery.. i dont think so.. you would probably have to fabricate one.

Btw how do your starter bolts look? Mine were worn out and replaced them.. When they get worn out it tends to let the starter twist in the hole.

[jdheff1982]

Originally Posted by mwooten92

Yep.. same thing here.. first start of the day is usually the best.. if drive somewhere and shut it off then go to crank it.. it acts like it sometimes has a dead battery.. i dont think so.. you would probably have to fabricate one.

Btw how do your starter bolts look? Mine were worn out and replaced them.. When they get worn out it tends to let the starter twist in the hole.

Would heat tape work as a heat shield? I know AZ sells a box of heat tape for $20.

The starter bolts looked good. Although, I don't have new ones to compare to.

[rwhit57]

Plenty of possibilities have been mentioned, except for timing. If your timing is off it can make it hard to start once it warms up.

[jdheff1982]

Originally Posted by rwhit57

Plenty of possibilities have been mentioned, except for timing. If your timing is off it can make it hard to start once it warms up.

Yeah, that is something else I have thought about too. I need to get a timing light anyways.

[jdheff1982]

I believe I have found the heat solution for the starter, found a Moroso brand heat shield designed for SBC chevy motors using Delco starters. Linky -> http://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/743...oductId=745330

[terryj]

I had the same issue after I installed headers, the heat from the headers was causing the starter to drag, put a heat shield on the starter and no problems after that.

[gchemist]

I run ceramic coated headers to fight off heat damage.

[jdheff1982]

Well, starter is acting up again. Went to start it earlier and all i got was flywheel grind. Everytime I stop, I could hear the starter winding down. Make me wonder if its not full engaging now.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Low84]

I had the same problem with mine went thought about 5 starters. It ended up being a bad cell in a brand new battery

[rayfinseats]

I can tell you that once the starter starts grinding a flywheel the sooner you replace the starter the better. I once ruined a flywheel by "milking it" till I got a new starter. Starters are much easier to replace than flywheels/flexplates. I'd say replace both, get a heat shield, add grounds and be done with it.

[67CC]

Rebuilt starter may be part of the problem along with the heat. (I used to do rebuilds for a living) If the drive bushing is too tight on the shaft(believe me, that's possible) the heat may be making it bind a bit and not slide all the way forward. Double-whammy as that tears up the teeth on the drive and the flywheel.

[jdheff1982]

Thing is the current starter is only 2 weeks old. How can it shot already? I ordered the heat shield today. If I have to replace starter, ill do then under warranty. Typically, where should I install grounds?

Thanks.
Posted via Mobile Device

[67CC]

Originally Posted by jdheff1982

Thing is the current starter is only 2 weeks old. How can it shot already? I ordered the heat shield today. If I have to replace starter, ill do then under warranty. Typically, where should I install grounds?

Thanks.
Posted via Mobile Device

Not a question of it being shot, it's a question of it being made wrong. Bushing is usually burnished bronze. If it's not burnished enough, it will be too tight on the shaft. Being a rebuilt , it may be a used shaft, which means it probably isn't straight(taper-wise). Could be very slightly bent too.Gets to a part of the shaft where the dia. is a hair bigger and it sticks when the metal expands from the heat. Rebuilds are kind of like hot dogs. You'll never buy another one if you knew some of the stuff that went in them.

[jdheff1982]

Originally Posted by 67CC

Not a question of it being shot, it's a question of it being made wrong. Bushing is usually burnished bronze. If it's not burnished enough, it will be too tight on the shaft. Being a rebuilt , it may be a used shaft, which means it probably isn't straight(taper-wise). Could be very slightly bent too.Gets to a part of the shaft where the dia. is a hair bigger and it sticks when the metal expands from the heat. Rebuilds are kind of like hot dogs. You'll never buy another one if you knew some of the stuff that went in them.

Here is the part that baffles me, I drove my truck today at around noon. Quick 5 minute drive to the store, drove back home. It sat from about 12:30pm to 6:00 pm when I tried starting it again. Should be no reason for the starter to be suffering from heat after sitting for 5.5 hours. I did not have a hot day temp wise either.

Last chevy I owned (1983 Gran Prix), I had starting issues with it as well. Is this a trait common with chevy motors?

[motornut]

had a 86 Grand Prix never had issues.......and i had headers
actually went threw two sets while owning it
told not to wrap them ,void the warrenty?

but thats how my truck acted