New starter grinding noise no crank

Tiny
THINKIN_THOWED
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 CADILLAC DEVILLE
  • 138,000 MILES
Bought new starter installed it and all day it was fine now I wake up this morning and it makes an awful grinding sound almost like when u turn the key when already running but it wont crank
Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 AT 5:03 AM

13 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It may be a bad starter drive which is part of the starter. Or the flex plate teeth are worn off.
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Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 AT 6:05 AM
Tiny
THINKIN_THOWED
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Should I return the starter
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Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 AT 6:31 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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Yes it's probably a rebuilt unit and the drive wasn't replaced but auto parts aren't going to know that. They will test it and see it's good but will wonder just tell them the starter drive is out. That is the gear on the end of it.
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Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 AT 6:35 AM
Tiny
THINKIN_THOWED
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Does the starter have to be adjusted or configured becase all I did was drop the old one put the new one in some1 mentioned I need spacers or shims
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Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 AT 6:47 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Yes you probably will auto parts have them. I thought this was a northstar engine. You wont' have to pull the starter get the shims and they should have instructions with them one bolt of starter may have to be removed as the inside part of shim is a slot. Sorry.
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Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 AT 6:51 AM
Tiny
THINKIN_THOWED
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Yea its not the Northstar I like that about this model, Thank you will try that
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Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 AT 7:02 AM
Tiny
THINKIN_THOWED
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Now that I did that it clicks a few times before cranking
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Wednesday, November 6th, 2013 AT 7:06 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check for loose connections. Either at battery or starter.
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Wednesday, November 6th, 2013 AT 7:09 AM
Tiny
THINKIN_THOWED
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OK so I noticed that the negative cable was melted to the battery
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Wednesday, November 6th, 2013 AT 7:45 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
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  • 48,601 POSTS
Check the battery to make sure it's ok then replace the cable you should have one to the engine and one to the body from the negative side. I guess you didn' t disconnect eh battery when you pulled the starter.
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Wednesday, November 6th, 2013 AT 8:04 AM
Tiny
THINKIN_THOWED
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Could a bad park neutral switch be causing my problem
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Wednesday, November 6th, 2013 AT 6:40 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It could as well as a starter relay but if starter itself is clicking then no it's not the problem. Are you sure you have set it up correctly with the shims? Is it getting battery voltage to the starter even when not trying to start? Did you replace the negative cable since it was burnt up?
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Thursday, November 7th, 2013 AT 5:38 AM
Tiny
THINKIN_THOWED
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The shims fixed the grinding. I replaced the cable and after looking into another problem ive had since I got the car I found out the neutral safety switch was causing a Gear Indicator Fault. Its been bad for 4 years so today I tried wiggling the gear shifter and it fired up no clicking but its another $150 part this car is a piece of work who ever had the car b4 me did absolutely no maintenance on it. Its frustrating having to fix everything all at once
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Thursday, November 7th, 2013 AT 5:10 PM

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