Frustrated: Talk me out of selling

[GMCjunkie]

I know I would regret it at some point, but I am SOOOOO frustrated with my truck. I had the on going issue with the starter and now it seems its a never ending issue. Its binding up again. The guy I sent it to, put an ACDelco starter on it and it started good (but never great) now its back to not starting at all. Ive had my truck back for over a year (after NOT having it for almost 3 while in the paint shop) and havent even put a hundred miles on it. Im afraid the fly wheel is chewed up from all the ill fitting starters thats been tried on it and with my new job, I dont have the time (or know how) to do anything with it, and I dont have the money to take it back to the mechanic. Im sick of paying insurance on a truck that wont even move out of its tracks. I know some of yall have been where I am. Encouragement or ideas please. Rant mode officially off.

[Indyuke]

What was the original issue with the starter? Shimming, wrong tooth count, etc?
What engine do you have, and does it have a flywheel or flexplate?

[jhwkns]

Don't do it Jodie! It's something simple.

Isn't there someone in FL that can help this good lady, and long standing board member out?

[domeier]

I don't think I'd own one of these trucks if I couldn't work on it myself.

1. They're old. They need attention.
2. I can't afford the shop rate.
3. The mechs in the shop are on the clock, so they don't have as much motivation to get things right as the owner does.
4. I like wrenching my truck. Gives me some sort of hippy-zen inner peace. Forces me to slow down, and focus on the task at hand. It's a form of meditation, of communing with Chevy All Powerful, (peace be upon her name.)
5. Okay, that's mostly bs. I just can't afford to have someone else fix my cars.

Maybe you should give a shot at fixing it yourself? For the price of one hour's shop time, you could buy a socket and wrench set, shop manual and a bag of rags. And then every time you turn the key, you'll get all hippy-zen-satisfied and say om om om, and you'll invite your friends over to drink beer and listen to that starter crank - Just listen to it crank, you baboons!

Good luck.

Paul

[biggestjohn]

The value of these trucks are going up, finally. Oh and you have a great Suburban.

[dan42]

Yeah, if that's the only problem, I wouldn't consider selling it just yet. There are a lot of guys (like me) that work too many hours to spend the time crawling under my truck to fix something that it would take someone else half the time to do. You just need to do a little research and talk to people in the industry and find a guy who's good, reasonable, and honest - and you'll be just fine. I would learn as much as you can, though - you need to know what the mechanic is talking about, you may even want to learn how to do something if you were to actually do it. Our trucks are mutts of a sort; most of them have different motors, etc. then what they came from the factory from and you have to know the specifics of those as well. First step is to be patient and find someone that is willing to work on your vehicle and be reasonable and grateful when you're working with him - you'll be a lot happier.

[leddzepp]

I cannot believe you are still having issues with the starter. Junk the OEM, get a mini-starter, and forget about it. I have used mini starters on both of my trucks....never had one single problem after that. They cost more, but they are worth it cause they work.

[bowtie72]

My guess would be wrong flywheel tooth count. Bad news if this is the problem you need to pull engine or trans to fix. But could be a simple starter shim. I think the guys on her and I can help you do that yourself. If you were in Co I would come look at it for you. Good luck. Start from the begining and tell us what it did first.

[Classic Heartbeat]

It is an easy thing to do to pull the dust shield and check the flywheel to see if the teeth are chewed up. If so I would replace it and go with a high torque minny starter. Finding good rebuilt starters is a tough thing to do. Most I have found are already suffering from heat soak or just junk. I am sure one of the members on this board that is closer to where you live will be more than happy to help you. WES

[big mike71]

Why doesn't somebody that lives by her go and look at it.

[bigguy69]

I am with everybody else. Mini starter and check the flywheel. If you don't need it to drive just take your time.
Posted via Mobile Device

[LockDoc]

-
Here are the threads on her starter problems. They may not be in Chronological order. It's been going on for quite a while and I would be frustrated too...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=412513

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414393

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=440954

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=450191

LockDoc

[Steve Hafner]

I had the same problem with mine, when I first bought it fifteen years ago - it finally was fixed once it was shimmed ( they had to use a lot more then it was supposed to have, but it's been FINE ever since )

[GMCjunkie]

Thanks LockDoc, that saved me from alot of 'splaining. I have tools, I have the shop/ work space. Im not asking anyone to come and fix it for me. I know Im whining, big time. Im just at a point where Im disgusted. I trust the guy that put the ACDelco starter on it, hes an older guy, hes owned these trucks in the past. He is very patient, and would even try to explain to me how to fix it myself, even if it meant him losing the sale. Honestly, I didnt know there was a difference in a flex plate and a fly wheel. Last time I looked, my...whatever it is, flywheel? was ok, and the guy, Don, who put the starter on said that it was a little worn, but nothing to really address at the time. I cannot physically manage to drop the transmission, even if I did have the time or the money to do it. Ive almost decided to just pull the insurance on it and put a "non-op" on it for now. Thanks everyone.

[vectorit]

Please do not sell your burb for this reason.
There have been so many times, for me where I came to a boiling point and wanted to sell.

Best thing for me was "non-op" the registration, put a cover on her and put it out of my mind. My burb was on a non-op reg for years at a time, mainly due to me just not having the time/space/money/energy to do anything with it.

In your case, non op the registration and take a break from thinking about it.
Then research the problem at your leisure, no pressure just learn when you are in the mood. Maybe save some pennies for new parts and shop costs, for when you decide to get going on finishing up your baby.

[Boog]

I feel your frustration Jodie. It's hard to believe your truck still has this problem. A good bit of time has passed since all this began. Without reading all those posts again to refresh our memories it would be helpful to restate exactly what it does and what's been done so far to correct it. Seems like it started fine before it went to the paint shop but began acting up right after getting it back. Is that correct? Explain "binding up" please.

[OhOneWS6]

Originally Posted by GMCjunkie

...Honestly, I didnt know there was a difference in a flex plate and a fly wheel. Last time I looked, my...whatever it is, flywheel? ...

Automatic trans = flexplate
Manual trans = flywheel.

[landsurvey1]

You will need to fix it even if you sell it imo. If you are like me, you have a considerable amount of money invested in your truck. If a future buyer can't start the truck, you are taking a risk of a lower asking price than what it is worth. Lets face it, you will never get what its worth, but don't add fuel to the fire. Just my .02

[71swb4x4]

Here is a flywheel - the pressure plate bolts to the flywheel.


and a flex plate - the torque converter in the auto tranny bolts to this.


On both you can see the outer teeth that the starter engages with.

[eightbanger]

I thought you went with a Mini Starter when they took it to the shop last time...so now, in my cross voice with finger waving...."for the last time, please get a high torque mini starter" and if the teeth on the flex plate are damaged then replace that too, and baring something else going on that we're not aware of because we can't see it, you should be good to go...and don't sell.

Oh yeah, if your flexplate has a weight welded to the outer edge then it's externally ballanced (see above pic) and that means 168 tooth count, if no weight then it has 153 tooth count.

[GMCjunkie]

ok, Its an automatic, so I assume that it has a flexplate. Ive tried several starters, napa replacement starters. I have tried every combination of shimming known to man (or woman) Don says, that my engine is actually a 76 block and thats why the starter that is ordered for a 71 does not match up exactly. It started ok for several times with the ACDelco starter on it. It is doing the same thing now that it did beofre. It "binds" up. Turn the key, and it grinds and will not start. Im not sure how else to describe it. It dosent turn over, it feels and sounds like it just locks up when you turn the key.

[eightbanger]

Have you tried a mini starter like this one..??
Take some pics of your starter and FP please Jodi.

[68 SHORT-STEP'N]

I'm sure you have done this already , but has your mechanic run the #'s on your motor to match the correct starter to the block ? Possible that flexplate has a hairline crack in it so when you try to start it that the flexplate moves just enough to bind the starter ? Just a thought .

[HavinSomeFun]

Jodie, I'm about 50 minutes down the road from you in Tallahassee. Glad to come over and take a look next weekend. PM me your number.

[Boog]

With the inspection cover removed and the solenoid removed from the starter you can manually push the starter gear out into the flexplate and see how the two mesh up. I have forgotten the measurement now but you can use a round feeler gauge to measure the depth of the gear engagement. This may be covered in your service manual. This is how to tell if shims are needed or not for correct starter/flexplate engagement.
First and foremost you have to know that the battery is fully charged and the cables are both good. Super clean ground connections a must. Check to see that it's getting a solid 12volts to the starter. You can have a fully charged battery and it still not turn the motor over. I've had 3 battery failures in the last 6 yrs do the same thing. Showed to be fully charged but would not turn the motor. All right at 2 yrs old.