Another Starter that Nose broke off... Anybody have an Idea whats going on?

IronMan said:

I had to replace my starter on my 94 caprice cause the nose of the starter broke off. I put on the new starter yesterday and it wouldn't start. It sounded like it wanted to but the starter seemed to not be working with the flywheel. I put on jumper cables just in case the battery was low in the caprice. Then I even put in my Truck (Yukon SLE) battery in and tried it. Nothing!!!! So I quit out of frustration. Today I go to take another stab at it and noticed this new starter had cracked and another turn of the key it broked completely off again. I don't want to keep buying starters. Anybody have a idea of whats going on??? Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

You need to make sure that the engine isn't froze up for some reason. I would start with using a socket and ratchet on the crank bolt and make sure you are able to turn the engine over, if you can't then you're looking at pulling the engine to figure out why it's locked up. The other thing is that if the bendix gear meshes too tight with the flexplate that could break a starter nose as well. About the only way that would happen is if you're buying rebuilt starters. When a starter gets rebuilt the company building them machines the mating surface of the starter nose which now puts the bendix gear closer to the flexplate and after a couple rebuilds you end up with issues. I only buy NEW starters because of this and besides a NEW starter isn't much more than a rebuilt POS.

4x4high said:

You need to make sure that the engine isn't froze up for some reason. I would start with using a socket and ratchet on the crank bolt and make sure you are able to turn the engine over, if you can't then you're looking at pulling the engine to figure out why it's locked up. The other thing is that if the bendix gear meshes too tight with the flexplate that could break a starter nose as well. About the only way that would happen is if you're buying rebuilt starters. When a starter gets rebuilt the company building them machines the mating surface of the starter nose which now puts the bendix gear closer to the flexplate and after a couple rebuilds you end up with issues. I only buy NEW starters because of this and besides a NEW starter isn't much more than a rebuilt POS.

Click to expand...

I'm going to take it to my friend shop and put the car in the air and try to figure out whats going on. I did notice that the starter gear was wedged in the flywheel teeth.

Something else that just came to mind, you are using the correct GM starter bolts and not just a random bolt of the correct size? A factory starter bolt has a knurled section on the bolt which is what aligns the starter correctly as it's bolted down into place.

What part number of the starter you are installing, and can you post a pic of the broken starter?

Anybody have an Idea whats going on?

I suspect the mounting pad had to much material removed from it. I always recommend taking ones starter/alternator to a quality local rebuilder. Most medium size cities have them. Not only do you get the same case back. So,you know it will fit. Many times the wear items are replaced with upgraded components,armatures balanced,stuff like that. The "life-time" garbage sold by AutoZone,and others isn't worth two dead flies.

1slow96 said:

The "life-time" garbage sold by AutoZone,and others isn't worth two dead flies.

Click to expand...

Damn man you hate AZ, lol I understand and agree alot of there stuff is crap. But keep in mind you can also buy AC Delco parts there aswell, it is your choice to buy the lower quality cheap part.

I've found a lot of times there AC Delco stuff is cheaper than summit.

Anybody have an Idea whats going on?

I've had more bad experiences with AutoZone, then all the others put together. I realize some of this may be a local issue. Very little of my work is "emergency" in nature. I can order stuff from Summit/Jeg's. Many times the product is at my door the next day,but I live in Ohio. RockAuto,and Amazon are very competitive as well.

4x4high said:

You need to make sure that the engine isn't froze up for some reason.......

Click to expand...

BAM!


I broke three starters in four weeks last fall in my '95 SS.

Nose piece would just completely broke! Had other issues, too....car not always starting or had difficulty starting, and several instances where the motor just died while driving (usually if I'd been driving for 35+ minutes).

Finally said 'F'-it.....and decided to take the engine/tranny from my totaled 9C1 and install in the SS. When we pulled and checked the engine from the SS, we found that the driver side head gasket had blown and was filling the cylinders on that side with radiator fluid. This made it VERY difficult in starting the vehicle.....and caused a lot of stress on the starter. Damndest thing.....never got the white exhaust that normally comes from a blown head gasket.....

Suggest you take a good look at your engine oil, though.....and maybe pull a sparkplug from each bank of the engine .

KW

As the most likely problems have been addressed I'll bring up the Odd ball possibilities that come to mind, tranny/bell housing loose, flexplate broken, & chevy made 2 different flexplates/flywheels, One with IIRC, 152 teeth, and one with 168...

Gregg-O said:

.....flexplate broken, & chevy made 2 different flexplates/flywheels, One with IIRC, 152 teeth, and one with 168...

Click to expand...

Good point!

Actually, though.....that would be a 153 tooth flexplate and a 168 tooth.

Our cars have (normally) a 153 tooth plate (may be different if you have an aftermaket plate).....and your starter MUST be spec'ed for the # of teeth on your flexplate..

KW

Gregg-O said:

As the most likely problems have been addressed I'll bring up the Odd ball possibilities that come to mind, tranny/bell housing loose, flexplate broken, & chevy made 2 different flexplates/flywheels, One with IIRC, 153 teeth, and one with 168...

Click to expand...

Fixed it for ya. While GM did use two different flexplates if he was using the smaller flexplate with the starter for the larger one the starter would not engage the flexplate and likewise if he was using the larger flexplate and tried to install the starter for the smaller flexplate he wouldn't be able to get the starter to even bolt up as the starter nose would hit the flexplate.

Thanks Guy's, I plead old age...I'm lucky to remember to zip my fly after I pee...LOL.

Gregg-O said:

Thanks Guy's, I plead old age...I'm lucky to remember to zip my fly after I pee...LOL.

Click to expand...

I've told that you rarely unzip it.....BEFORE you pee...................

Have a good one !

KW

Did we find a answer for this ?

Spark scatter inside the distributor cap can easily break starter noses.

jamariuswatkins said:

Did we find a answer for this ?

Click to expand...

Doesn’t look like he ever posted a fix, does it?