Noisy starter

[steve3408]

Has anyone had to modify or add a shim to their starter to quieten it down,wasnt real quiet anyway,and the other day i had to unbolt it and swing it out of the way,so now its pretty noisy,or more so than before.Before i climb back under it i just wanted to ask around about what others have done with this problem.

[JeffD]

Replace the shim, that affects the clearance between the meshing gear teeth  of the starter and flywheel/flexplate, It needs to be there! you going to kill either the starter or the flywheel or both if you don't.

[steve3408]

(scberetta3800 @ Apr. 22 2008,22:33)QUOTEReplace the shim, that affects the clearance between the meshing gear teeth  of the starter and flywheel/flexplate, It needs to be there! you going to kill either the starter or the flywheel or both if you don't.
Okay that why i was asking,it didnt have a shim to begin with so... was that kinda a std. thing with the V6's or just some of 'em? Wont the shim actually space it away just a little from the flywheel? its already  (i think) a little loose.If it makes noise crankin' it,its loose and needs to go toward the flywheel,to mesh better with the flywheel teeth,and if it makes the noise when you let off,then its too tight,not releasing from the flywheel teeth.right?...

[JeffD]

see, whats happening is the starter is only riding the flywheel on the beveled edge of the starter gear teeth. the Shim does pull the starter away from the flywheel, but only enough to allow the  teeth to mesh properly. I've seen the shims on 2.8s and 3.1, and as far as I know the 3100s didn't have em. I could be wrong, and they may be available to fix problems like yours. I dunno for sure. what engine do you have?

[steve3408]

(scberetta3800 @ Apr. 23 2008,17:33)QUOTEsee, whats happening is the starter is only riding the flywheel on the beveled edge of the starter gear teeth. the Shim does pull the starter away from the flywheel, but only enough to allow the  teeth to mesh properly. I've seen the shims on 2.8s and 3.1, and as far as I know the 3100s didn't have em. I could be wrong, and they may be available to fix problems like yours. I dunno for sure. what engine do you have?
Thanks for that info. The car is a '95 base 3100 auto.
Yeah , i bought it with the starter out on it 4years ago,i replaced it myself ,didnt see a shim,but it was a little noisy then,and now its a little more noisy on the "crankin"part.The old 400 Chevy small blocks i remember having to use a rat tail file and "oval" out the mounting holes so it could be moved closer to the flywheel teeth to take up the slack in clearance,works like a charm on them,i may have to do it to this 3100 motor too.It might just have some wear on the flywheel teeth to the point of being noisy now too.

[Cliff8928]

You can use a shim to move the starter closer to the flywheel.  You cut the shim in half and only put it in the outside hole.

[steve3408]

(Cliff8928 @ Apr. 29 2008,23:49)QUOTEYou can use a shim to move the starter closer to the flywheel.  You cut the shim in half and only put it in the outside hole.
Hey thats a good idea, i'll try that.Thanks