Starter Solenoids Issue
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 30
From: Weslaco Texas
Starter Solenoids Issue
I have been having issues with my starter... it makes this nasty loud grinding sound after a few months of having it on my car. I have gone through 4 starter solenoids in the past 2 years (2 per year pretty much) and it's getting annoying to swap it out and im confused as to why it's doing it... I rarely drive my car and I turn it on at least 1 time per week or 2 weeks and leave it running for 5-10 mins. OH BTW I installed a Starter Solenoid Shield thinking it would fix my issue cause maybe it was getting hot with my headers and it DID NOT fix my issue but I still install it on them anyways.
The starters all get the same issue (btw 2 of them were rebuilds from a reputable starters/electric shop and 2 of them were NEW Remy AC Delco) which is the starter solenoid does not engage & spin at the same time (which is the power post) I've done this test with the starter directly to a battery and if I hit the negative post it spins, if I hit the ground post it engages, but if i hit the positive post it does not do anything. Again all these 4 starters have had the same issue.
Is their something I should be looking for to fix this issue... im tired of swapping out these heavy starters!!
If you need more info or diagnosing let me know so I can get that info for you, thanks!
The starters all get the same issue (btw 2 of them were rebuilds from a reputable starters/electric shop and 2 of them were NEW Remy AC Delco) which is the starter solenoid does not engage & spin at the same time (which is the power post) I've done this test with the starter directly to a battery and if I hit the negative post it spins, if I hit the ground post it engages, but if i hit the positive post it does not do anything. Again all these 4 starters have had the same issue.
Is their something I should be looking for to fix this issue... im tired of swapping out these heavy starters!!
If you need more info or diagnosing let me know so I can get that info for you, thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Did you install the starter using the two 'special' Chevy bolts (they have knurling on the shanks to better align starter via the mounting holes)?
Might you need a shim between the starter mounting pad and the block pad to get the 'gear tooth spacing' correct? [Too tight a mesh between the starter and ring gears will draw excessive current and eat-up teeth.]
Might you need a shim between the starter mounting pad and the block pad to get the 'gear tooth spacing' correct? [Too tight a mesh between the starter and ring gears will draw excessive current and eat-up teeth.]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 30
From: Weslaco Texas
i got 2 bolts that hold it up and one bolt that holds a small bracket to align it better up front. I have 4 shims ... w/ 4 shims it turns on like a beauty... right now im installing the replacement i just got and im going to try 3 shims and see how it turns on...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 30
From: Weslaco Texas
i just installed 3 shims instead of 4 and im hoping that helps because i read on the starter installation from REMY AC DELCO that 3 is the max to install and you shouldn't install more then that. Also I read on their was that the more shims cause excessive work on the solenoid.. so lets see if that works...
the car turns on fine now.... but if you have any other clues or things to look at let me know, thanks!
the car turns on fine now.... but if you have any other clues or things to look at let me know, thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Using 'regular' bolts to mount the starter will not put it in proper alignment. The Chevy-provided bolts are knurled over most of the shank so that the effective diameter of the bolt shank is a bit larger than the shank of a stock bolt you would find at a hardware store. This assures that the alignment of the starter housing and the engine block is more precise and that the starter forces can't cause that alignment to change under load. If those two bolts do not have any knurling on their shanks (one can be easily removed to check that out), they are not the correct bolts.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 4
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Using 'regular' bolts to mount the starter will not put it in proper alignment. The Chevy-provided bolts are knurled over most of the shank so that the effective diameter of the bolt shank is a bit larger than the shank of a stock bolt you would find at a hardware store. This assures that the alignment of the starter housing and the engine block is more precise and that the starter forces can't cause that alignment to change under load. If those two bolts do not have any knurling on their shanks (one can be easily removed to check that out), they are not the correct bolts.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
DO NOT USE SHIMS to fix a possible bad ring gear...shims make the starter 'further' away from the ring gear and will positively screw up both the starter drive and the ring gear
now to the bad 4 starters, I don't believe it....a little known fact is that the engine will stop in the same area every time on the ring gear and by you moving the starter further away by those shims only worsens the issue
now to the bad 4 starters, I don't believe it....a little known fact is that the engine will stop in the same area every time on the ring gear and by you moving the starter further away by those shims only worsens the issue
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Check your clearances. Here is an instruction sheet.
Clearances are the same for all types of starters.
http://www.powermastermotorsports.co..._GMMiniSta.pdf
Clearances are the same for all types of starters.
http://www.powermastermotorsports.co..._GMMiniSta.pdf
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 30
From: Weslaco Texas
thanks everyone, i am currently looking for a knurled starter bolts for my car locally and im going to put my car on some ramps and take off all the shims and start checking clearance... thanks guys. i'll update you all!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 30
From: Weslaco Texas
i just checked the clearance w/ 0 shims and it looks good! i double checked my bolts that hold the starter up and they are knurled starter bolts. so everything checks out good.
I will keep the car running like this and note that if starts acting up again I will post up here to this thread..
Thanks guys!
I will keep the car running like this and note that if starts acting up again I will post up here to this thread..
Thanks guys!