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Grand am wont start grinding noise
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covin22
New User
Feb 7, 2009, 3:46 PM
Post #1 of 2
(3845 views)
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Grand am wont start grinding noise
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hello, i have a 2000 grand am gt 3400 V6 (159,00 miles)that is i can't figure out what is wrong with it. One day i took off to the store,when i came out to start my car it took 3-5 tries to get it to start. It kept giving me problems so I figured it must be my starter so I changed it. That help temporarily. Now when I try to start the car it makes a grinding noise and then the starter disengages and makes a spinning noise without catching the flywheel. I had this new starter and the original starter both bench tested an two different auto parts stores and they both tested it good working order. Could it be my flywheel? I would be greatful for any help with this issue. Also my Passlock Security light seems to be solid quite often, could this be connected to a security issue?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 7, 2009, 4:41 PM
Post #2 of 2
(3843 views)
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Re: Grand am wont start grinding noise
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Couple things seem to be going on here - let's begin with the starter.
Starter gets confused with making the engine run and it's sole purpose is just to turn the engine. It doesn't give a hoot if the engine runs or not but cranks it so it can run on its own.
Overworking a starter is hard on them and they fail because of that so source problems should be addressed. Never let a starter try more than perhaps 10 sec MAX (watch a watch) and a few minutes before another try to let it cool down.
Now - I think you may have a bad starter OR it isn't fitting in properly. Been ages since you used to use shims to get them the proper distance such that the teeth engaged properly and not too hard or too little but if this one can quietly hummmm away without grinding or turning the engine the "starter drive" which is part of it has gone bad. That part shouldn't do that even if overused but they can. Some rebuilders don't put a new one in each rebuild which they should as they will bench test fine and that doesn't show up till installed in most cases.
I suggest you take this one out again and look at the little gear on it AND look at the larger gear all the way around - one full engine turn by pry bar where starter was on the teeth or by bolt on crankshaft pulley while someone watches for a missing area of teeth or even one tooth - hope not that! Trans must come out to replace the ring/flywheel gear.
Hope it's just a bad starter and then you can move on to why it doesn't start up quickly when it's working properly,
T
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