Starter keeps breaking

FUBAR69

MEMBER
1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

V8 four wheel drive automatic 150,000 miles.

I am on my third starter in so many weeks now. The starter keeps breaking. The housing breaks and the part that goes into the fly wheel keeps breaking and I have to take the flywheel cover off to dig out the broken parts. I was told by the auto parts store guy that the starter I have in the truck is actually for a 1996 Chevrolet but my truck is a 1997. It sure seems to have a lot of room. The starter for a 1997 is a lot bigger. Should I have a 1997 starter instead? Is there some kind of spacer or shim I need for the starter since it is a 1996? And why do I have a 1996 starter in a 1997 Chevrolet anyway?

4 Replies

MASTERTECHTIM

MECHANIC
4,749 POSTS

If your installing the right starter motor. Your problem is the crank shaft position sensor. When you crank engine over the bad sensor effects the engine timing causing a kick back breaking your starter motor. I am not joking, this is a common problem.

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Friday, February 1st, 2008 AT 6:18 PM

FUBAR69

MEMBER
5 POSTS

Thanks, I will have this checked by a mechanic. After installing another starter today, the truck would not start until finally this starter broke also. This sounds like what might be my problem.
Where is the crankshaft position sensor located?

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Friday, February 1st, 2008 AT 6:32 PM

FUBAR69

MEMBER
5 POSTS

I replaced the crankshaft position sensor today and installed another new starter with a shim on the starter. Engine turns over, truck does not start still. Smells like it is flooding. Is there an adjustment for that sensor? It came out super easy. When I put the new one in I just stuck it back in the hole and put the retaining bolt in and re-attached the wire harness. I may have to look into towing the truck to a mechanic.

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Saturday, February 2nd, 2008 AT 9:47 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,643 POSTS

You should never need I starter shim on a Chevrolet. The problem you describe could not be a crankshaft sensor because the injectors would not work if it was. You may have an injector that is stuck which would cause the starter to break as it fills the cylinder with gas.

Please let us know happens so it will help others.

Best, Ken

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Tuesday, November 29th, 2016 AT 6:06 PM