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Starter won't engage...

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Old Apr 14, 2025 | 02:36 PM
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Default Starter won't engage...

The bakelite of my original starter broken at M8 stud, I ordered another original Delco rebuild starter.
When I try to start the car, I hear the starter turning but not engaging with the flywheel gear.
I have read a lot of posts with this problem that seems quite common.
I checked:
- Battery voltage: 12.1 V
- All grounds look ok.
- The output of the sprocket by applying 12V on the contact terminal is ok. it is however strange that the pinion turns sometimes (but not always) when we put the tension only on the terminal of the solenoid...
-The voltage on the wire for the solenoid on the car: 12V by pushing the start button
-The assembly on the engine of the old and new starter is for me similar. I measured the distance between the starter body and the wheel of the flywheel: identical for both starters.
-The 2 fixing screws are the original ones.

I have no more ideas, other than buying another starter to compare....


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Old Apr 14, 2025 | 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by chris383
The bakelite of my original starter broken at M8 stud, I ordered another original Delco rebuild starter.
When I try to start the car, I hear the starter turning but not engaging with the flywheel gear.
I have read a lot of posts with this problem that seems quite common.
I checked:
- Battery voltage: 12.1 V
- All grounds look ok.
- The output of the sprocket by applying 12V on the contact terminal is ok. it is however strange that the pinion turns sometimes (but not always) when we put the tension only on the terminal of the solenoid...
-The voltage on the wire for the solenoid on the car: 12V by pushing the start button
-The assembly on the engine of the old and new starter is for me similar. I measured the distance between the starter body and the wheel of the flywheel: identical for both starters.
-The 2 fixing screws are the original ones.

I have no more ideas, other than buying another starter to compare....

What year is this car ???...sounds like a bad starter...remans aren't usually the best.
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Old Apr 14, 2025 | 03:38 PM
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2008 LS3

The starter is this one :



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Old Apr 15, 2025 | 03:19 PM
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Sounds like a defective drive.
Ask how I know.
Second on reman as crap shoot.
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Old Apr 17, 2025 | 11:45 PM
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Originally Posted by fat biker
Sounds like a defective drive.
Ask how I know.
Second on reman as crap shoot.

Yep and since you can replace the starter solenoid on the original starter for around $25, its the way to go on the original starter, verse getting another complete starter that may have problems in the drive part of the motor, or not fitting the car in first place with starter may engage flywheel teeth, but not retract far enough to disengage instead.
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Old Apr 25, 2025 | 04:37 PM
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I have changed the starter with a new one and everything is ok from this point of view.

Now, I would like to run my engine without starting it to start the oil pressure before starting.
I disassembled the spark plugs and tried once or twice: I have trouble seeing the oil pressure dial during start because the dashboard becomes black when I start the starter...
At the moment, I do not seem to have seen the oil pressure increase when starting the starter : any advice here ?

I saw on the forum that I should still disassemble the ralais and fuse of the gas pump and disconnect the ignition coil (I do not know why...).
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Old Apr 25, 2025 | 04:41 PM
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To crank the engine without starting it hold the gas pedal TO THE FLOOR and then push the start button…this is called a “clear flood crank”.
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Old Apr 25, 2025 | 04:44 PM
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I tried this procedure, but my engine still started for some reason I don’t know...
So now, I want to be 100% sure it won’t start!
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Old Apr 25, 2025 | 04:53 PM
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It should not start…I’ve done this procedure a thousand times…you have to keep the gas pedal to the floor and LEAVE IT THERE while starting.
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Old Apr 25, 2025 | 04:56 PM
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Maybe I slightly raised my foot during starting? Possible...
But as I said, with the spark plugs removed, if the engine starts, it is that this car is haunted (which I think sometimes...).
But the main question is: how to read the oil pressure during the start-up procedure?
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Old Apr 25, 2025 | 05:04 PM
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Why are you needing to read your oil pressure ??…wasn't this a no start issue and why are the spark plugs removed…I have no idea what you’re attempting to do ??
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Old Apr 25, 2025 | 05:27 PM
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I have done some work on the engine, among other things changed the oil pump and I want to be sure that the oil pressure is present before starting the engine.
The pump has already been filled with the correct amount of oil for priming
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Old Apr 25, 2025 | 05:35 PM
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You can look on EBay for this adapter and gauge to read your oil pressure directly.




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Old Apr 27, 2025 | 11:26 AM
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I searched eBay, but I couldn't find a product that matched the ones in the GM manual....
There are "universal" tool sets that allow you to measure oil pressure.
However, I couldn't find the threads for the LS block.
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Old May 4, 2025 | 03:53 PM
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After several attempts, I couldn't get any oil pressure when I started the engine with starter motor.
So I decided to start the engine. The pressure increased almost instantly.
I then took it for a test drive, and so far, I'm happy with the results. The oil pressure—thanks to the Melling pump—is higher than before, especially when the engine is warm, despite the addition of a Z06 oil cooler.
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