[Diceman]

starting my truck this morning it sounded like the truck was already started. i hit it again and the motor turned over a couple times but fairly slow and it still made the grinding/chatter noise. the third time it started but the truck was making some chatter under the hood and the amount changed with the RPM's. it wasn't low oil pressure or anything like that, was fairly high pitched and made a distinct clacking sound.

im thinking the starter is going out. i've had the truck for about 10 months or so and have only changed fluids and tires so it has been good to me so far. thoughts? i parked it and rode the bike to work today in the frigid 30 degrees.

 

[JayMack75]

It may not be going bad. It may be that the bolts holding the starter have loosened a bit and the alignment of the starter and the flywheel is off.

 

[Diceman]

let's hope so. are there any service documents around here? i'll google for now. hopefully this is accessable.

 

[Diceman]

after checking it out yesterday, the starter wasn't being held on by anything, i did find the broken bolt on the ground under the truck. both the holes have broken off bolts in them. working on extracting them now. what a PITA.

 

[collinsperformance]

good job--i was going to say try the connections and make sure they were clean and tight. you might get some dielectric grease for the grounds and pos and starter post this will warnt off corrosion for a bit........post results after you get the starter fixed.....mike

 

[JayMack75]

after checking it out yesterday, the starter wasn't being held on by anything, i did find the broken bolt on the ground under the truck. both the holes have broken off bolts in them. working on extracting them now. what a PITA.

Glad it wasnt a bad one!

 

[Crawdaddy]

Good luck! I recently had my starter go out on me at a gas station. Replacing that thing in the parking lot was not a fun job, especially trying to hold the blasted starter up. Those bolts must have been loose for a decent amount of time. I hope extracting the bolts will go ok, as not having my truck for a decent time period could drive me insane. :gasp: If the starter needs to be replaced, try going for a premium rebuilt, new, or high torque starter, of course the high torque being best if you can afford it. I love effortless starts, especially on a motor as old as yours, and mine.

 

[Diceman]

the bolts still arent out right now. awaiting some backup.(GM master tech. arty

 

[jaywbeeman]

I just out a starter in last thursday. Drove it to work, had to move it out of the way.....nothing, completely dead, didn't even turn over.

My cousin used to have a 1990 1500 sierra and the same thing happend to him. Parked for lunch, when to drive back to work.....dead

Both times not a warning, they just went. I don't know about anyone else, but I've yet to have any sort of heads up when it comes to GMCs and their starters