Cascade Crew

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 10:11 pm Post subject: Starter woes

okay here's the deal with the Jimmy. '89, 4.3L 4x4 Gear Reduction type starter.

Other day I turned the key and it started turning the engine over a few revs then started skwakin and squeelin. Let off key, turn again..... few revs just fine as day then the noise.

WTf?!

Cables look good, battery puts out decent voltage and is about 2 years old. Hefty mother too. Like 875ca!

So against my better judgement, being in a hurry, and not wanting to be stranded, got the starter rebuilt. Guess it needed it anyway, but didn't solve the problem. Doesn't seem to be switch related, because sometimes its fine sometimes it's not and moving switch position doesn't seem to effect it.

Used the hydro test on the battery and all cells were right at the fair/poor line.

Lights never dim or anything driving wise.

Cable at the starter feels a little stiff.

The teeth I saw on the flexplate looked good, and looked great when I had the trans out only 1000miles ago.

Any ideas?

chevymad · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 5:09 pm Post subject:

Hope your rebuilders are better then the ones in Longview.. Anyway, inside the gm gear reduction starters they use PLASTIC gears for the reduction unit. Not sure if thats whats making the noise, but i've recently read on TC that they can be a problem. Especially if the motor kicks back ever.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 5:41 pm Post subject:

Motor has never kicked back.

Rebuilders are in portland, and had my old starter and dad had his starter rebuilt there and work great still. Hopefully the trend continues.

This problem started before the starter was rebuilt.

Now I seem to get it mostly right as the engine fires there will be a bit of a sqweltch.....

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sat May 07, 2005 9:41 pm Post subject:

Battery has 772 CCA.

Guess its the switch or cables or starter still as crap?