My first C4, starter woes...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: mobile al
My first C4, starter woes...
I'm a C3 guy with my first C4. My ploblem is the starter sometimes will disengage slowly. It's slow enough that it will grind the flywheel for a fraction of a second. My starter guy has rebuilt the starter and says it checks out with a load. He thinks it could be voltage drop at the starter or a bad flywheel. Am I at least going in the right direction?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,599
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From: Orange County NY
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13
What year is your C4? Without juice, that starter gear should be snapping back into place. Does it engage smoothly?
Sounds like you're headed in the right direction so far...
Sounds like you're headed in the right direction so far...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,355
Likes: 2,280
From: Central Maryland
I doubt it's got anything to do with a bad flywheel, if I'm understanding you correctly that the grinding occurs when you let off of the key.
And a "voltage drop"??? There should be no voltage applied to the starter anytime except when the key is in the Start position.
More likely, it's something sticking in either the solenoid, its linkage, or the Bendix is binding on the armature shaft.
Does the ignition switch seem to return from Start to Run normally, or is it perhaps sticking a bit?
Be well,
SJW
And a "voltage drop"??? There should be no voltage applied to the starter anytime except when the key is in the Start position.
More likely, it's something sticking in either the solenoid, its linkage, or the Bendix is binding on the armature shaft.
Does the ignition switch seem to return from Start to Run normally, or is it perhaps sticking a bit?
Be well,
SJW
Thread Starter
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From: mobile al
The car is a 92. It is grinding after I let off the key. The key seems to be returning like it should. It doesn't do it all the time. Do you think my starter guy may have missed something in the rebuild? Yes, it does engage smoothly.
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Originally Posted by thebmwsource
I'm a C3 guy with my first C4. My ploblem is the starter sometimes will disengage slowly. It's slow enough that it will grind the flywheel for a fraction of a second. My starter guy has rebuilt the starter and says it checks out with a load. He thinks it could be voltage drop at the starter or a bad flywheel. Am I at least going in the right direction?
There are shims (very common) that are used to be sure starter and flywheel are in correct alignment.Sounds like you may have a misalignment.
The GM shop manual addresses this problem
seeya
jack
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30
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From: mobile al
Starter #2, same grinding..
I put another starter on (ac/delco). Same grinding noise about 1 out of 5 starts. No shims were added. Is it shim time? My mechanic thinks it has to do with low voltage. He told me the solenoid engages and disengages the drive gear. He thinks that low voltage is causing the starter to hang. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Is it better or worse or exactly the same?Could be shims mabey were there any in it to start? Low voltage is BS 12v is 12v it should not hang.Did you replace the solenoid too or just the starter?Could be bad solenoid they can weld over.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,789
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
You can try putting a shim in to move it away from the flywheel and see how that works.I would not move it too much because you will start grinding teeth off off the flywheel.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,355
Likes: 2,280
From: Central Maryland
There should be NO voltage feeding the windings of the solenoid when the key is in any postion other than START. When you back off the key to the RUN position, it's the disappearance of voltage at the solenoid's windings that causes the starter to disengage.
Be well,
SJW
Be well,
SJW
