Hey guys. Recently started having trouble with the starter in my '95 GMC 3500. As soon as it got cold a week ago, the starter began "kicking out". I'll wait for the WTS light to go out, crank, and after a second or two the starter quits and you can hear a little whirring noise (assuming it's the little gear spinning in the starter after disengaging). Is this possibley a solenoid issue, or something with the starter? Any tests I can do to confirm what the problem is? The starter looks like it's newer (truck has 126K on it, got it two years ago with 97K). Any help would be appreciated. Would rather not have to throw $230 at a new one if I don't have to.

Worn or broken starter bendix and/or ring gear (flywheel ring gear on 4 sp, flex plate on auto trannies).

Truck is a 5 spd. if that matters. I should mention, it only does it with the engine cold, when it's obviously more difficult to crank. With it warm I never had this problem. I would assume the bendix is to blame as well. Would I be further ahead to get it rebuilt than replace?

Bendix would be cheap, $20-30 tops. Easy enough to remove, inspect, and if necessary, replace. Since its a 5 speed, just remove the large wire to the starter and park it on a hill and you can still drive it without the starter. Just make sure its a good sized hill.

Bendix would be cheap, $20-30 tops. Easy enough to remove, inspect, and if necessary, replace. Since its a 5 speed, just remove the large wire to the starter and park it on a hill and you can still drive it without the starter. Just make sure its a good sized hill.
That's funny. rreminds me of when I was in High School and didn't have enough money for a new starter. Brings back memories.

Bendix would be cheap, $20-30 tops. Easy enough to remove, inspect, and if necessary, replace. Since its a 5 speed, just remove the large wire to the starter and park it on a hill and you can still drive it without the starter. Just make sure its a good sized hill.

Spoken like a true hick :D What does a bad bendix look like Mr. Bomb?

The ones on my Mustang kept fragging themselves (chewing the teeth off) due to the wrong starter being installed. A bad bendix would probably come from a broken home, drop out of school, and take to a life on the street. Typically wearing baggy clothes, listening to rock or rap music, and talking in jive.

Seriously though, remove the starter and take a look.

Spoken like a true hick :D What does a bad bendix look like Mr. Bomb?

You haven't seen a hick yet, boy.

I had a 1980 Nissan/Datsun pickup with a bad starter and the diff spider carrier welded together. Had a 8hp Briggs/Stratton belted to the drive shaft and a bumper jack. Jack up the rear of the truck and put her in neutral. Start the Briggs and give it full throttle, then engage the belt clutch to get rear wheels spinning. Jump inside cab, put it in gear and dump the clutch. One out of 3 or four tries it would start, otherwise it would stall the Briggs. If it started, jump out, pull clutch, shut off engine, drop jack and off you go!

Cost me $3 in welding rod to make. Everything else was salvage.

Sound familiar. Had oil leak onto starter from leaky valve cover gasket. Starter drive was sticky when cold out. Cleaned oil out of starter drive and fixed leaking valve cover. Works fine now.

You haven't seen a hick yet, boy.

I had a 1980 Nissan/Datsun pickup with a bad starter and the diff spider carrier welded together. Had a 8hp Briggs/Stratton belted to the drive shaft and a bumper jack. Jack up the rear of the truck and put her in neutral. Start the Briggs and give it full throttle, then engage the belt clutch to get rear wheels spinning. Jump inside cab, put it in gear and dump the clutch. One out of 3 or four tries it would start, otherwise it would stall the Briggs. If it started, jump out, pull clutch, shut off engine, drop jack and off you go!

Cost me $3 in welding rod to make. Everything else was salvage.

...and to think you northern "yankees" call us southerners "red necks" :D

Hey guys. Recently started having trouble with the starter in my '95 GMC 3500. As soon as it got cold a week ago, the starter began "kicking out". I'll wait for the WTS light to go out, crank, and after a second or two the starter quits and you can hear a little whirring noise (assuming it's the little gear spinning in the starter after disengaging). Is this possibley a solenoid issue, or something with the starter? Any tests I can do to confirm what the problem is? The starter looks like it's newer (truck has 126K on it, got it two years ago with 97K). Any help would be appreciated. Would rather not have to throw $230 at a new one if I don't have to.

My starter is brand new a few months back. Too lazy to plug'er in last night, starter did the whirrin' thing this mornin'. Temp was -17C. I wait for the glows, hit the key, it grabs for 1 second then whirrrrrr........Let go of key, wait for whirrin' to stop, hit the key again and starter grabs fine. This is the third time my rig has done this since the cold started.