350 starter issue

so I need some help from the more experienced.

I have a 350 with a new starter that's binding (engaging, barley turning and making a machine gun type noise, and not disengaging) this was happening to the old starter which looked new. here's what I've done so far

-shimmed, I when from nothing and stack till the starter was barely catching
-ran jumpers from the battery to the starter to eleminate any possible wiring problem
-checked the flywheel for damage
-turned the motor by hand to make sure it wasnt seized
-checked to make sure the trans was sitting properly (never removed)

so far as I can tell something isnt squared to allow the starter to slide in and out. anyone have any input?

 

Connection

 

sounds like it might be a low voltage problem. check battery condition and check ground to block.

 

The Dude :
tell us a bit more, what is the car/truck ( at this point I do not care if the care is OT.. )
What year engine and trans
Why are you replacing the starter
When did the old starter begin this problem

 

I don't need many words to discribe what is wrong with that one. ItS A CHEVY. Thats what they do when the voltage is low or the connection is bad.

 

sorry, forgot the car info. its a 89 iroc-z camaro with 350/350 auto. I acquired the car with a new starter already on it that had this problem. After going through it all I figured it was a bad/weak starter and put a new one on with the same problem. I tried with several batteries and even a new one and ran jumpers to the starter thinking it was bad wire or corrosion

 

Grounds, engine to frame frame to firewall, and so on. Did you but the starter for the 89 Iroc or just a 350 chev?

 

or a bad ground on the engine, start simple work up

edit: the Dude is faster than me

 

Is the battery ground going to the engine block, or is it going to part of the body?

 

i bought the starter for the iroc-z, shares the same part # for the 3 years the iroc was offered with 5.7l. I know it isnt a ground because I grounded the starter right to the battery. I also pulled the starter out and it fired up with no problems.

 

i'll also be going back tomorrow and double checking the ground straps

 

slight chance it could be a warped flex plate, but eliminate the easy stuff

 

i was thinking warped flex plate, but wouldnt it be binding at different points? it does the same thing on a full rotation

 

Did you reuse the old solnoid or replace it also? I dont know if replacement starters com with them now or not.

 

"I know it isnt a ground because I grounded the starter right to the battery. I also pulled the starter out and it fired up with no problems."

Double check your wiring. Sounds like you understand that.

Here is my guess;
The bolts that attach the starter to the block: are they the GM starter bolts or bolts that seem to fit?
Chevy starter bolts are specific in a couple of ways. Non GM starter bolts simply do not work.

Begin with known GM starter bolts. I'll bet a nickle that one or more of these bolts are wrong.

Let us know what you find

 

looks like everything I was thinking was mentioned but low voltage or ground would be my starting places.

 

The other unfortunate thing it could be is a damaged/broken starter mount boss on the block. The outer hole can get split, or the entire corner broken off. It can be hard to see if things are oily/greasy/cruddy in that area. Be sure the starter motor brace is there, if not get one. I've even seen starter problems when an engine has lost it's thrust/thrust bearing. It does "sound" like a voltage problem, but you never know. Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Just a thought I actually had a very similar problem last year if you can get close enough to check the mesh do it and see how close it was. My actual problem was I have full length headers and the header was pushing against the back of the starter and pulling the pinion away from the flexplate. You have a little bit of rotational play in those things. So try loosening the starter and rotate the starter so that the pinion is closer to the flexplate if you need it or farther away if its too close. Just a thought and that problem tripped me up for a day and a half last year I was messing with shims and **** trying everything what a stupid headache.

 

My son had a 91 camaro and it was the ignition key with the chip, dealer checked it for him and replaced it with no further problems.

 

Where are you getting these starters, Autozone? Could just be ****py remans.

 

This post just saved me a heap of stress, swearing and fits. I envisioned hours of trial and error installing shims to get rid of the noise mine developed but after finding this thread, pulled out the battery charger instead and it seems to be fine now. Thanks.