Problem starting

StaticInMyHead · 12-18-2006, 01:41 PM

I have a 1992 GMC C1500 with a 4.3L engine that has trouble starting. When I turn the key over, the starter spins but does not turn the engine over. I have to try it a few times before the starter turns the engine over. It isn't a horrible problem, but I fear that it is getting worse. Does this problem sound familiar...what is causing it?

Spacemonkey6401 · 12-20-2006, 12:06 PM

Does it make any noises, horrible sounding almost? You could have a dead spot in the flywheel, where teeth are missing, and it grinds past that point till it catches.

StaticInMyHead · 12-25-2006, 09:52 PM

No, there's no grinding of any kind. The starter just spins. I thought that might be the case, but since there is no grinding, it would seem to rule that out. I've been thinking it might be the starter spindle not extending to come in contact with the flywheel. A friend of mine had the same problem, but it was the reverse problem; the spindle would stay stuck in the flywheel. Does this sound like a possiblity?

LostInTexas · 12-25-2006, 10:14 PM

Sounds like a weak starter drive or a bad solenoid. Pull the starter and check the flexplate...If the plate is ok, put a starter on it and be done with it.

warlocke · 12-28-2006, 10:24 AM

ya sounds like the starter is goin bad, do like texas said and pull the starter and check the flexplate, if thats ok put a new starter on it.

if you have an advance auto parts store around you, heres a starter for ya

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=123&ptset=A

u may have to enter zip code first tho

its 109 and has a core charge of 55, but once you take the old starter in you get that back.

StaticInMyHead · 01-07-2007, 11:58 PM

What exactly is a flexplate and how do I check it?

**Midnight Tech** · 01-08-2007, 12:12 AM

Flexplate and flywheel are the same thing...pull the starter off and inspect it through that hole for cracks or spans of missing teeth.
There may also be an access plate/dust shield on the bottom of the transmission right at the seam between the engine and transmission.

StaticInMyHead · 01-08-2007, 11:43 AM

Well, I looked underneath the truck from the front and was able to see parts of the flywheel. I couldn't see the whole thing, but as far as I could tell, all of the teeth were there. The weird part is that it was open rather than sealed with a dust shield as MT mentioned. It was open towards the front, so it wouldn't be too hard for a rock to jump up in there and start messing things up. Maybe it's meant to be that way, I have no idea. If the flywheel isn't damaged, which I hope it isn't (I don't know if I capable of separating the engine and transmission to replace the flywheel) I'll just replace the starter. Checker Auto has then for $80 (3 yr war.) and $95 (lifetime war.) both with a $33 core charge.

**Midnight Tech** · 01-08-2007, 04:30 PM

[shameless product plug]
Static, see if you can find a Cardone new starter for the truck - we sell those here and they actually are made better than OEM units are. They also carry a limited lifetime warranty.

[/shameless product plug]

LostInTexas · 01-08-2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnight Tech

[shameless product plug]
Static, see if you can find a Cardone new starter for the truck - we sell those here and they actually are made better than OEM units are. They also carry a limited lifetime warranty.

[/shameless product plug]

Whew! Cardone better than the factory parts? I've never heard that before. I don't know about shameless, Midnight.

StaticInMyHead · 01-08-2007, 07:55 PM

So it's definitely the starter then? I'd hate to replace the wrong part; I've done that too many times in my past experience working on vehicles.

**Midnight Tech** · 01-08-2007, 08:00 PM

Actually, I'd pull it and have it tested before investing in a new one.

Volt-Schwibe · 01-24-2007, 05:22 PM

in gm starters the solenoid also engages the drive gear, and it's not odd for them to get weak.

have it tested though, like mt said. most parts stores test for free.

12-18-2006, 01:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
StaticInMyHead Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 319 OS: WinXPPro, Vista HP My System	Problem starting I have a 1992 GMC C1500 with a 4.3L engine that has trouble starting. When I turn the key over, the starter spins but does not turn the engine over. I have to try it a few times before the starter turns the engine over. It isn't a horrible problem, but I fear that it is getting worse. Does this problem sound familiar...what is causing it?

12-28-2006, 10:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
warlocke Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: lees summit, missouri Posts: 146 OS: xp pro sp2	ya sounds like the starter is goin bad, do like texas said and pull the starter and check the flexplate, if thats ok put a new starter on it. if you have an advance auto parts store around you, heres a starter for ya http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=123&ptset=A u may have to enter zip code first tho its 109 and has a core charge of 55, but once you take the old starter in you get that back. Last edited by warlocke; 12-28-2006 at 10:27 AM.

01-08-2007, 12:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
Midnight Tech Admin/Head GreaseMonkey/Igor's alter ego/Grand Exalted PoohBah Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SC Posts: 2,928 OS: Windows XP Home/Pro SP3/Windows 98SE/Fedora Core 6/RH 7.2 with Autopoint/TAMS II	Flexplate and flywheel are the same thing...pull the starter off and inspect it through that hole for cracks or spans of missing teeth. There may also be an access plate/dust shield on the bottom of the transmission right at the seam between the engine and transmission. __________________ Please post all questions in the appropriate forum. Questions sent by email or PM will not be answered. Sharing my life...with my Imzadi! Interested in Trek gaming? Check out the Dynaverse! Proud supporter of the Carolinas Aviation Museum. If we have helped you in any way, please donate to keep TSF up and running! Last edited by Midnight Tech; 01-08-2007 at 12:13 AM.

01-08-2007, 04:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
Midnight Tech Admin/Head GreaseMonkey/Igor's alter ego/Grand Exalted PoohBah Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SC Posts: 2,928 OS: Windows XP Home/Pro SP3/Windows 98SE/Fedora Core 6/RH 7.2 with Autopoint/TAMS II	[shameless product plug] Static, see if you can find a Cardone new starter for the truck - we sell those here and they actually are made better than OEM units are. They also carry a limited lifetime warranty. [/shameless product plug] __________________ Please post all questions in the appropriate forum. Questions sent by email or PM will not be answered. Sharing my life...with my Imzadi! Interested in Trek gaming? Check out the Dynaverse! Proud supporter of the Carolinas Aviation Museum. If we have helped you in any way, please donate to keep TSF up and running!

01-08-2007, 08:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
Midnight Tech Admin/Head GreaseMonkey/Igor's alter ego/Grand Exalted PoohBah Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SC Posts: 2,928 OS: Windows XP Home/Pro SP3/Windows 98SE/Fedora Core 6/RH 7.2 with Autopoint/TAMS II	Actually, I'd pull it and have it tested before investing in a new one. __________________ Please post all questions in the appropriate forum. Questions sent by email or PM will not be answered. Sharing my life...with my Imzadi! Interested in Trek gaming? Check out the Dynaverse! Proud supporter of the Carolinas Aviation Museum. If we have helped you in any way, please donate to keep TSF up and running!

12-20-2006, 12:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Spacemonkey6401 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: KS, US Posts: 47 OS: Win XP	Does it make any noises, horrible sounding almost? You could have a dead spot in the flywheel, where teeth are missing, and it grinds past that point till it catches.

12-25-2006, 09:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
StaticInMyHead Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 319 OS: WinXPPro, Vista HP My System	No, there's no grinding of any kind. The starter just spins. I thought that might be the case, but since there is no grinding, it would seem to rule that out. I've been thinking it might be the starter spindle not extending to come in contact with the flywheel. A friend of mine had the same problem, but it was the reverse problem; the spindle would stay stuck in the flywheel. Does this sound like a possiblity?

12-25-2006, 10:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
LostInTexas Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 35 OS: Windows XP	Sounds like a weak starter drive or a bad solenoid. Pull the starter and check the flexplate...If the plate is ok, put a starter on it and be done with it.

01-07-2007, 11:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
StaticInMyHead Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 319 OS: WinXPPro, Vista HP My System	What exactly is a flexplate and how do I check it?

01-08-2007, 11:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
StaticInMyHead Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 319 OS: WinXPPro, Vista HP My System	Well, I looked underneath the truck from the front and was able to see parts of the flywheel. I couldn't see the whole thing, but as far as I could tell, all of the teeth were there. The weird part is that it was open rather than sealed with a dust shield as MT mentioned. It was open towards the front, so it wouldn't be too hard for a rock to jump up in there and start messing things up. Maybe it's meant to be that way, I have no idea. If the flywheel isn't damaged, which I hope it isn't (I don't know if I capable of separating the engine and transmission to replace the flywheel) I'll just replace the starter. Checker Auto has then for $80 (3 yr war.) and $95 (lifetime war.) both with a $33 core charge.

01-08-2007, 07:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
StaticInMyHead Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 319 OS: WinXPPro, Vista HP My System	So it's definitely the starter then? I'd hate to replace the wrong part; I've done that too many times in my past experience working on vehicles.

01-24-2007, 05:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
Volt-Schwibe Asst. Manager, Automotive Forums; HJT Trainee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you, watching you as you type. Posts: 7,372 OS: Click "My System" to view details My System	in gm starters the solenoid also engages the drive gear, and it's not odd for them to get weak. have it tested though, like mt said. most parts stores test for free. __________________ <signature> TSF is funded by our Admin's pocket, care to help? Power Tip: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. New Members: Creating a single new thread in the correct section is the best way to assure your thread will receive a reply. </signature>