Hey there, I hope everyone is having a good new years thus far
I'm a little curious about what has been happening. I have an 88 IROC 350 TPI.

Over the summer it started acting up. I would turn the key to start it and would get a grinding noise as if I was tryin to start it when it was already started. Seemed like the solenoid wasnt pushing out that little toothed rod far enough and it was just knicking the flex plate? I had a look see and one of the solenoid terminals seemed bent, so I went to bend it back and the thing snapped and it didnt crank at all. So, I replaced it. I put in 2 shims and it seemed okay.

3 months later, around a couple weeks ago it started that again, once in a while. I put in the third shim today hoping it would go away. Later today it did it again. It is intermittent and often seems to like to happen when there is a large audience Any thoughts? thanks in advance.

- Tom

 

I'm still lost, anything at all?

 

Yes, I am having the same exact problem. Does anyone have any idea what is wrong and how to fix it?

 

You should check the clearance between your starter gear and flywheel. You can use a paper clip to do this. You will need to pull your inspection cover, pull the starter gear out so it is engaged in the flywheel (PITA) and hold it while you slip the paper clip in between the tip of the starter gear and the flywheel. Check it in several places around the flywheel. Adjust your shim as needed to get the clearance correct. If it is too loose you can cut the shim and put shim under the outside bolt only which will tilt the starter and close the gap.

I really don't see the shim being your issue though. If it worked for 3 months and sounded ok I'd just replace the starter. I just went to a gear reduction starter and it is very quite, turns the motor effortlessly and weighs 15lbs less than a stock one. Find an LT1 starter if you can, they are the cheapest if you can get one used. If not I went with a CVR from Scoggin Dickey ($145) and am very happy with it so far.



Good luck

 

Last time I had a problem like that, it was the cranking amps on my battery. i had enought to run the car, but not enought to turn the starter. Why it did it some times and not others, I'll never know. I replaced the battery and never had the problem again.

 

Check your starter drive. The gear should turn easily by hand one way and not at all the other direction. Turn it several times and try it in different spots. If it will turn backwards at all replace it. They are only about $6 at Autozone.

 

I had that problem, replaced the starter, hasn't happened since.

 

Hey there again.

My starter just did it again, it has been about 2 weeks since it has done it, since my first post of this thread. However, I had a thought I wondered if it was ignition related at all? Does a solenoid force the little rod out to engage the flex plate? If so, maybe the solenoid is not recieving enough current to force the solenoid all the way out from time to time. I may try to replace my battery, it's probably under warranty. Thanks in advance.

Tom

 

While you're at it, (if you haven't already done so) clean the terminal ends and cables at the starter solenoid connections.

The Trickster!!!!!!!!!!

 

mine did that too. but it would only do it every 3-4 months sometimes it would go a while without doing it, one time it dident even want to start. then after a while (a year later) the starter dident work. replaced it and till today it hasent done that anymore.

 

Instead of an LT1 starter...get a Tommy Johnson Jr Motorsports mini-starter...do a search for more info...I got mine for $100 a year ago and I like it...Sounds like it is probably the starter itself and replacing it should solve the problems...

HTH,