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Has anyone solved the grinding starter problem?

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245K views 321 replies 94 participants last post by  CobraCDN  
#1 ·
My '05 LLY has had a starter issue since I bought it 3 years ago. Every so often when trying to start, the starter grinds as though not fully engaging the flywheel. Then she'll fire right up on the second try. Seems worse during colder temps.

There's a few posts that offer suggestions to fix such as lubricating the starter or replacing it, but the problems seem to resurface after short while.

I'm wondering if anyone has found a good solution?

Thanks,
TH
 
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#2 ·
mine does the exact same thing, had it replaced and will still grind about once a week. The best response that I have found on here was that you might have a flat spot on the fly wheel and just every so often your starter hits it when starting. I guess I will just deal with it.
 
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#3 ·
I've found that mine seems to grind when it's either:

A) Colder outside or;

B) A group of people are standing nearby

I'd love to get it fixed, but I don't want to replace the starter for nothing. I have seen that some recommend lubricating the starter gears. Is that something that I can do, would I have to take it to a shop to have the starter disassembled?
 
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#4 ·
Lol I know how you feel, mine has done that since I bought it back in 05. It seems to always happen when a bunch of people are standing around. I also noticed that it usually does it when I put more pressure on the key when cranking over. I have not yet found a solution.
 
J
#5 ·
If all you are going to do is lubricate the shaft with a cold temp high speed grease, you should be able to drop the starter and do it without taking it apart. If you have the ability to take it out, you could probably take it apart without any problems. The tricks to putting them back together are subtle, but make it easier. Most starters and alternators have brushes that need to be retained so that you can install the armature. Brush holders typically have a hole in them, or the springs have a parking spot that keep the brushes retracted until the armature is in place. On a rare occasion, the end with the brushes will come completely off making it easy to put back together.

If you do pull it off, post pictures. Someone here can probably give detailed directions on how to service it. Otherwise they are cheap at the parts house. I think they are less than $150.
 
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L
#7 ·
I have the same problem on a 05. I have never seen it posted but my guess is the block was not machined correct and that is why replacing the starter does not correct the problem. If GM was worth anything they would identify the batch of blocks that were bad and provide a fix. But the government owns GM now so I will wait until the truck is junk and get me a Ford.
 
#291 ·
lavarock said:
I have the same problem on a 05. I have never seen it posted but my guess is the block was not machined correct and that is why replacing the starter does not correct the problem. If GM was worth anything they would identify the batch of blocks that were bad and provide a fix. But the government owns GM now so I will wait until the truck is junk and get me a Ford.
Click to expand...

I would hold off on the fords, I have a couple of friends whom have 6.7's,6.4s, and the dreaded 6.no's. I will take a flat spot on the flywheel vs having to do head gaskets yearly, or in the 6.0s case every 6 months. just my 2 cents.
 
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J
#8 ·
In the old days, one would shim the starter to fix the engagement. I do not know if you can shim the mounting holes for alignment or not.
 
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#10 ·
The '02 I had, did the starter grind every now and again. Dealer could not duplicate the problem for extended warranty...they said.
A jobber shop saw the ground off teeth on the ring gear, when they where going to replace the starter. Ended up keeping the old starter and selling the truck.
Don't think it a a run of bad castings, because it is spread over a number of years.
 
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L
#11 ·
turnpike said:
The '02 I had, did the starter grind every now and again. Dealer could not duplicate the problem for extended warranty...they said.
A jobber shop saw the ground off teeth on the ring gear, when they where going to replace the starter. Ended up keeping the old starter and selling the truck.
Don't think it a a run of bad castings, because it is spread over a number of years.
Click to expand...
I did not say it was a bad casting. I suspct it was in the machining. There is probably several machines involved. May have been only one machine. As was stateted by another the older small blocks required some to be shimed because they could not get the machining correct. Ground off teath on the flywheel was the result of the old small blocks if I remeber correct. I was not aware there were years other than 05 involved. But if anyone knows for sure what the problem is I would like to know. I am always afraid this truck will stand we in a very bad place. Like in the middle of a busy high speed intersection in downtown LA where they may shoot you for holding up traffic.
 
#13 ·
Mine grinds, then starts normal the 2nd try. Doesn't do it all the time....???
 
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#14 ·
Only once has mine failed to start on the second try......that time, it ground three times before finally engaging.

This seems to be a common problem and I'm surprised that GM hasn't done something to remedy.
 
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L
#15 ·
strmh said:
Only once has mine failed to start on the second try......that time, it ground three times before finally engaging.

This seems to be a common problem and I'm surprised that GM hasn't done something to remedy.
Click to expand...
GM is not very good at stepping up to the plate. Two examples. Bose radios. My first one with a problem was an 85 Olds 98, then a 99 SLS and now my 05 Dmax. Second example: Pump rub! Oh there is also the steering problem. If the government does not issue a safety warning they do nothing. Oh forgot the government now owns GM. There will be no fixes in the future.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Im sure glad mine doesn't grind, Knock on wood!
 
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#18 ·
I know on large bore 6 cylinder diesels that you would find in an over the road truck will stop in the same position 8 out of 10 times. The fly wheel will develop a "flat spot" or basically a worn out spot that causes a grinding issue. Im not sure if this completly applies to our light duty v8's but it is possible. And mine has done this once, Im about crapped myself.
 
L
#19 ·
The flat spot is a possiblity. But my truck had less than 10,000 miles the first time it started to do this. But you are correct there are four places a v8 engine will stop. With the high compression of a diesel I suspect it will stop in a very narrow area. Just like Toyota I am sure the GM enginers know what the problem is and how to fix it. But they will never step up to the plate. I do not see this as an issure that may kill anyone. Thus there will never be a recall.
 
#20 ·
Mine did it too. Went to replace the starter and found the top bolt was stripped and not tight. The threads were stripped internally so I drilled straight through the bell housing and bolted the new starter on with a bolt/nut combination. It has not had any grinding issues since.
 
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H
#22 ·
Hey been awhile since I've been here but I'd like to join the grinding group, I myself just spent 10hrs replacing my flywheel and starter as per my local dealer suggested to solve this problem, only to have the grinding noise come back that same day, talk about frustrating, and it does not matter if you use o.e. parts or aftermarket it still there, and from reading as many forms possible we the group still are suffering with this problem, and yes apparently g.m. could care aless about this problem , they got our money already. sorry guys just really frusted, this has been going on for about a year for me.
 
#25 · (Edited)
My 05' does it every now and again. Always starts right up on the second try. and yes always seems there is a group of people around when it does it. I am going to inspect the starter bolts the next time I change the oil. 145k on her right now
 
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#28 ·
Not sure if someone has reccomened this but I have this problem on different things over the years and have gotten alot of life out of taking the starter nose cone off and getting into the Bendix and cleaning it up and lubing it. its what slides the gear out to engage the flywheel when you go to start the engine. might help and couldn't hurt.
 
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#30 ·
My brother-in-laws (supermax)dads truck did the same (05) and he replaced the starter and flywheel and it still does it.
 
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C
#31 ·
i come from the stealer , the diesel specialist said that it will not change the flexplate (flywheel) if teeth are not badly damaged, it suspect voltage drop from relay or cable oxidation, it tell maby that can be the ecu that control the starter relay.

i will soon install a direct bypass switch to the starter ! i will keep you informed of my test !

on duramax,

ingition switch tell to ecu power up the starter relay, ecu know when to or not power up the starter relay. i will post the shema.
 
#33 ·
I dont have any grand in my starter, but occasionally I will hit the ignition and nothing at all will happen. It almost feels like the starter gear is just stuck in place. But, then I try again and it will fire right up on the 2nd or 3rd try.
 
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