When I turn the key it often times makes a grinding sound as if the car was already on. I beleive it is the starter. Is this the problem? And if so where can I get a starter? I read on these boards that a starter goes for $30-$35... After some research I cannot find even a refurbished starter for under $100!

Does anyone know where I can get one for cheaper and if this is even the problem?

Thanks

P.S. My car is a 1992 Camaro RS 5.0 TBI

 

starter might be the problem, along with flex plate, starter location, maybe even wrong bolts. you migth have to get under the car and take a look. if you want a lot of pratice with starters and R&Ring them keep looking for the 35 dollar starters.

 

Will the car start?

If it will, then yes, then there is a reall good chance you've got some bad starter-to-flex plate contact. Starter for $100? Autozone has offbrand starters for $35 + $15 core. Or AC Delco fo $52 + Core.

If you've never done a starter before, have a friend help....misery loves company.

 

I paid 200$ for a Protorque starter, thing kept on grinding and making the most *** awful sound. Kept shimming the thing, did everything.

Finally figured out the damn thing wasn't pulling back in, so it was starting the engine, then wasn't disengaging itself. Returned the crappy one, got a new, one, bolted it right in and worked flawlessly.

 

Please send me a link to a starter for a 1992 Camaro RS 5.0 starter... I searched autozone and can't find one under $80... Thank you

 

mine does the gringing thing now, but my exhaust is too close and keeps burning up the starters. i'm gonna have to get a heat shield for it now

 

Wow, I was wrong, sorry about that. I put in that your car was an 89 and not a 92. The best I can find is $79 at Advance Auto. I'll keep looking thogh

 

I've had a couple of teeth broken in my flywheel since I bought the car....5 years ago. Every once in a while, when I engage the starter, it grinds. So I stop, and re-engage the starter. Usually the second time works perfectly.

I know it's the flywheel too because I've replaced 3 starters on this car. I've had heat soak problems with this car....

Is that how yours is behaving, or does it do it all of the time?

 

You do not want a cheapo starter unless of course you don't mind replacing it every 6 months (or sooner). I've gone through atleast 8 of those remanufactored "lifetime warrenty" starters from various auto parts stores.. Sure you can pull it out and get a new one for free but why go through all the hassle and end up stuck in some random parking lot because your crappy starter decided to die? Buy the expensive brands they're worth it.

I bought one of those $150 CVR mini-starters and I'm pretty happy with it.

 

while replacing my stater tonight i looked for this. i didn't have any of those problems but i usually replace the starter about once a year. this is my 5th starter in 6 years. my fist starter was a brand new ac delco starter and it was no better than one of the rebuilds i get

 

Just curious does anyone know what the proper way to measure and guage the starter to flywheel contact. (as in gear mesh or depth?

 

Pull the starter gear out with a screwdriver and hold it engaged into the flexplate. I think 18 or 16 guage wire should fit in the space.

 

there should be about .020 to .050" clearance between the gears, check in multiple locations.