Starter

[83kid]

Hi,
Put in a new starter the other day. Installed correctly, and it makes a whir after the engine starts, i crank it, and if i let off because the engine starts it still does it. If i start the truck, i can hear it just the same. Its like the sound of a whinibg electric motor when somethings spinning. Teeth look fine on flexplate. Ideas?

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Take your dust cover off and make sure the starter gear is disengaging from the flex plate, is it an oem starter or is it an after market gear reduction starter? You may have to shim it if the starter isn't disengaging.

 

[chengny]

I am probably going to be in the minority on this one, but I think that sound is normal - for a Delco starter.

Prior to buying the truck I am currently driving/restoring (a 1986 GMC K30), I had sworn off Square Bodies - actually all trucks - for about 5 years. When I bought this one, I was at first concerned that the starter was hanging up - or something was wrong internally. But being the type who doesn't look for trouble, I just let it find me, the starter noise was ignored. But one day while I was listening to it, my son came by and asked what I was doing. I told him the starter sounded weird but it worked great - just a strange "zing" noise when the solenoid was de-energized.

He looked at me kind of strange, and then reminded me that that was exactly how the starter in my old truck sounded. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized he was correct. I think it just takes awhile to become accustomed to way the Delco starter sounds - when the solenoid releases and disengages the pinion from the ring gear. After that it seems normal.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

On my 98 3/4 ton the starter has that high pitched "zing" but it immediately goes away after it fires up.

But if I understand correctly he said the sound continues after he gets it fired up.

 

[83kid]

The sound continues after its running, just right after it fires up and i move the key grom the start to run position the noise slows as one would just by friction, not immediate but wuickly, but gradually going down

Replaced the starter in the truck before and it never made that noise, so ill look to make sure its not hanging up but its the same kinda of starter i had in it before, installed the same, which didnt make any noise

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Its not uncommon to get a bad starter, depending on the brand. Some are better than others but there's always a chance. I would just run it as long as it's not hanging up, and if it craps out then oh well depending on how far you drive it lol