Hello all. I recently replaced the starter in my 89 Coupe. First 25-30 times I started it up after the install, everything was perfect. The other day I turned the key and "SCREECH"!! The next time that I turned the key, all was fine..."VROOM"!! However, the screeching sound has become more frequent...did it three times today. I'm worried about the effects this may have on the motor/starter/etc. Is there a simple fix for this? Time for a new flywheel?

Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.

 

Either there is a mis-alignment of the starter or the solenoid is going bad already. Did you buy a remanufactured or rebuilt starter? If the flywheel isn't worn out now, it will be if you keep starting your car like that.

 

i too had this problem with brand new hitachi starter.. work for about amonth..becuz of warranty it was replaced. have it replaced soon..some starter are defective right out of the box..

 

Thanks for the reply JCAIRE2. The starter is a brand new AC Delco starter that I purchased from the dealership. Should I simply remove the starter from the car and then bolt it back on? I was surprised how simple it was to bolt it back on the car...maybe I was missing something!! Does it sound like something is misaligned between the starter and the flywheel, OR between the starter and the solenoid?

 

Problem would be between starter and flywheel. When you took the old one off, were there any shims between the starter and mating surface? If so, you should reshim. If not,then you might try taking it loose, set it back in and make sure the starter is flush all the way around and tighten it evenly.

If it continues to make a noise, then it may be a. a bad armature bearing or b. the solenoid is not disengaging the starter all the way from the flywheel after starting.

If it's a. or b. take it back for an exchange. In any event, as said before, if you continue to use as is, you run the risk of screwing up the flywheel as well as getting stranded somewhere.

 

shims most likely.

 

I hate replacing starters with different units which is why I prefer to get the one from the car rebuilt.However,its not always easy and time efficient to do so,so a quick swaq with a parts place unit is the faster way to go.Getting your original rebuilt ensures a perfect fit when outting it back in the car.

However,for some reasons,GM starters and even the other types uses different sized nose cones so there will be different fits for each starter you try,hence the need for shims.Someone once suggested to me,before I bring the old starter core back to the store,to swap nose cones to ensure a perfect fit.I never tried it that way and unsure if that works.I may try that next time a car of mine needs a starter and I dont have time to drop the starter off somewhere.

That being said,a starter went out in my van last week.I didnt have time to get it rebuilt so I swapped it with an parts store unit.My original starter didnt have shims.I installed the new starter and it screeched bad.I had to install a thick shim to get it to mate properly.
It suxs but thats what happens.Shimming can be trial and error.

Also,one more thing to check,make sure your starter bolts didnt come loose.You did say it didnt make any noise at first and then got worse.Its possible the starter bolts came loose and the starter is moving side to side on start up.Also check the starter gear to ensure it didnt strip someplace.

 

First thing I would do is to check starter bendix to flywheel ring gear clearance. Best way is to drop the flywheel cover off the tranny. Then , manually engage the starter bendix gear into the ring gear. I suggest that you disconnect the neg battery terminal before messing around in there just to be safe. Try to insert a straightened paper clip between the peak of one gear and the valley of the opposite gear. If it will not go, then there is not enough clearance . Too tight here and the starter will shreek like a banshee when you turn it over. If that is the case, you will need to install thicker shims under the starter until a regular paper clip will barely slip in as mentioned before. Dropping the flywheel cover is also an excellent way to be able to see exactly what is going on in there. Good Luck

 

Just wanted to say "thanks" to everyone that helped with this. I took the starter out last Saturday and re-installed everything. The starter and flywheel appear to be OK and I've got about 25 perfect starts on it since the re-installation. Only thing I noticed that raised a red flag was that the black wire that connects to the starter (I guess this may be a ground wire) wasn't firmly connected. I'm guessing this may explain my problem. That, or the starter simply wasn't lining up properly with the flywheel. Thanks again!!