New Starter

BADs Crew · Post by **BADs Crew** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 4:02 pm

After finishing a long day at work I found that when I turned my key to start my CC it did nothing. I flip my cell phone and call my mechanic and he suggest hitting it with a BFH. Being dressed to work in an office and not be crawling under my truck I recruit the help of one of the service supervisors. While I turn the key he taps the starter and it fires rite up.

So here I am again with another problem with the CC. I want a new GM starter and not a rebuild. I searched GM Direct and it appears by the code of REM after the part # and the words CORE that I can not buy a NEW starter at there site. Does anyone know of another site that would have New GM?

I understand that they are a pain in the a$$ to install. I won't do it myself but if I am going to do it I want it done rite and I want to get the best deal on the starter that I can find.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:00 pm

New starter on EBAY.......$86

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:13 pm

It is usually just the solenoid that needs replacement. The starters have been holding up really well to 150k miles. The solenoids need replacement at 100k for average to heavy use.

Usually the brushes are still pretty good, the drive may get a little dry , but most often they are still pretty good.

If you get it wet, or dirty the life may be a little shorter.

I trust my local builder.

BADs Crew · Post by **BADs Crew** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:27 pm

HenryJ wrote:It is usually just the solenoid that needs replacement. The starters have been holding up really well to 150k miles. The solenoids need replacement at 100k for average to heavy use.

Usually the brushes are still pretty good, the drive may get a little dry , but most often they are still pretty good.

If you get it wet, or dirty the life may be a little shorter.

I trust my local builder.

Hit it with a hammer and it works. Is it the starter motor or the solenoid? I guess I could strap a hammer to it and run a rope from the hammer up into the glove box. Just open the glove box and clang the bell.

New anti theft system.

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:42 pm

Actually if you just keep trying it may make contact.
There are two copper studs in the solenoid. and a bar that makes contact between them.
When you energize the solenoid a coil pulls a piston back that is attached to a shift fork. This pushes the starter drive into the flywheel, and when the solenoid travels all the way back a copper bar contacts the two posts completing a circuit from the battery cable to the starter motor.
The contacts become blackened and corroded over time. Think of arcing a wrench across the battery terminals. This is similar to what is happening inside the solenoid. The contacts being copper keep it from welding itself together. The metal actually transfers from the stud the the bar on the battery side and less so on the motor side. Eventually the rough surfaces lead to a poor contact. Tapping the starter, with the ignition, not a hammer may bang the bar and posts enough to make contact, just as tapping the solenoid with a hammer may jar the connection enough to make contact.

Summary: It is the solenoid not the motor.

BADs Crew · Post by **BADs Crew** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:02 pm

Now you have me curious. Can you swap out the solenoid with out totaly taking the starter out. I understand you have to jack up the motor to remove the starter.

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:10 pm

Sadly, it may be possible, but probably still easier to remove the starter.

It should not be really difficult to remove the starter. Here is the GM version.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise and support the vehicle.
3. Remove the differential carrier shield mounting bolts, if equipped.
4. Remove the differential carrier shield, if equipped.
5. Remove the starter mounting bolts.
6. Disconnect the wires from the solenoid.
7. Remove the starter from the vehicle.
Note the location of the shims, if equipped.

Installation Procedure

1. Connect the wires to the solenoid.
Tighten
* Tighten the battery positive cable nut to 9 N·m (80 lb in).
* Tighten the engine wiring harness to starter nut to 1.9 N·m (17 lb in).

2. Install the starter and the inboard starter mounting bolt. Do not tighten.
3. Install the starter shims, if equipped.
4. Install the starter mounting bolts. Tighten

Tighten the starter mounting bolts to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).

5. Install the differential carrier shield, if equipped.
6. Install the differential carrier shield mounting bolts, if equipped.
Tighten

Tighten the differential carrier shield mounting bolts to 25 N·m (18 lb ft).
7. Lower the vehicle.
8. Connect the battery negative cable.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:59 pm

f9k9 wrote:New starter on EBAY.......$86

$86 is a great deal for a new starter considering most of the remanufactured units out there are $130 and up.

Steve

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:19 pm

killian96ss wrote:
f9k9 wrote:New starter on EBAY.......$86
$86 is a great deal for a new starter considering most of the remanufactured units out there are $130 and up.

Steve

I was beginning to think that my search was for naught

Thanks, Steve

BADs Crew · Post by **BADs Crew** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:21 am

f9k9 wrote:
killian96ss wrote:
f9k9 wrote:New starter on EBAY.......$86
$86 is a great deal for a new starter considering most of the remanufactured units out there are $130 and up.

Steve

I was beginning to think that my search was for naught

Thanks, Steve

Sorry I didn't respond f9k9 but as any of you that have children know, no matter what dad is doing there is always something more important going on. I did see the starter on eBay and gave it some thought. There is no brand name in that ad. I would hate to buy it and find it to be bad after installing it. I would have to go buy another one locally and hopefully ship the eBay one back.

After sleeping on it I think I'm just going to put this in the hands of my GM dealer. This way there won't be any problems that I can't have repaired. I do a lot of traveling in my line of work. I'm off to York PA. today and I'm packing a hammer. I will call for an appointment to have it replace and just take a vacation day off work this week.

Thanks for your help everyone.

BADs Crew · Post by **BADs Crew** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 3:41 pm

I had to tap the started again this morning and than on my way up the road it started shifting hard going into over drive or when it down shifted to 3rd so I drove it rite to the dealer.

Now I got to see if this Grand AM I rented will really do 140mph or they just put the number on the speedometer to make it look like it would.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 5:15 pm

BADs Crew wrote:I had to tap the started again this morning. I got to see if this Grand AM I rented will really do 140mph or they just put the number on the speedometer to make it look like it would.

I'm sure most people here know this, but if your starter ever fails completely you can take a screwdriver and use it to make contact with the power cable terminal and one of the terminals on the solenoid which will cause the starter to engage and rotate. Make sure the key is in the run position also. I would only recommend doing this in an emergency situation because it's not the greatest thing for the starter and sometimes the sparks scare people.

Oh and another thing make sure your not touching and of the metal on the screwdriver while completing the circuit.

BTW, I really doubt that Grand Am will do 140.

Steve

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:25 pm

killian96ss wrote:.............. I would only recommend doing this in an emergency situation because it's not the greatest thing for the starter

Steve

I would recommend a cheap screwdriver because it ain't healthy on them in the "cosmetic" department