1998 c2500 5.7 crew cab. Motor recently replaced with crate engine and trans rebuilt. Went to the car wash to track down an oil leak. Pressure washed the pan, block, and starter. Ever since the car wash I have had nothing but grief with this starter. It grinds and catches I’ve removed and replaced. Checked all wires, I’ve pulled flexplate cover, flexplate is a little chewed but not to the point of replacement. I guess I’m asking do these 5.7 vortecs have to have the starter shimmed or maybe I’ve missed something. Thanks in advance!
Starter problems
- Thread starter Z_McClure
- Start date
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Two things could be going on here......yes you may need shims to get the backlash correct I have used them before and are available at any parts store....
Or
Sounds like the bendix drive in your starter is weak. The "solenoid" on top of starter energizes and creates a magnetic field to pull the arm engaging the starter into the flywheel. If the bendix is weak it will not make it all the way before the starter motor spins. Get a new starter...
Or
Sounds like the bendix drive in your starter is weak. The "solenoid" on top of starter energizes and creates a magnetic field to pull the arm engaging the starter into the flywheel. If the bendix is weak it will not make it all the way before the starter motor spins. Get a new starter...
Thank you sir, starter is less than a year old and just weird that pressure washing it would have any effect on it. I’ll just replace it and check tolerances. I was reading a post about cross firing of the distributor, the truck does have a weird problem of not starting when wet but the starter problem happens all time and not sure they are related.
Redneckgeriatric
I'm Awesome
sounds like you were thinking the starter is waterproof. they are not! pressure washing can easily push the grime to the inside and cause issues. read chewy post!
stutaeng
I'm Awesome
Interestingly, I just happen to replace the starter on my 99 NBS 4.3 vortec this last weekend. The 4.3 are known to have that crank, no-start when damp, which I have been having intermittently for about 3 years now and replaced the typical spark plugs and wires. I've replaced the ICM about twice and cap and rotor several times.
My starter got replaced about a year ago and just recently I had to bump the ignition about 4-6 times to get it to turn over. Well, Saturday was really damp and both issues showed up at the same time. On Sunday I got the starter warrantied and got a new ignition coil, since it had never been replaced. I had checked resistance on the coil many times per the Haynes manual (even compared my 4.3 to my 5.7 and they were around the same, just a tad low vs the specification.) 4.3 now starts with fewer cranks and runs a bit stronger. I want to say when I checked for spark the arcing was more on the orange side, instead of the blue that they recommend, but didn't think that would cause a no-start. My 5.7 has not had that issue with the damp weather problems starting, but I think I will replace the coil because it is original with over 200k miles.
I hope this helps. Oh, yeah, and replace the starter.
My starter got replaced about a year ago and just recently I had to bump the ignition about 4-6 times to get it to turn over. Well, Saturday was really damp and both issues showed up at the same time. On Sunday I got the starter warrantied and got a new ignition coil, since it had never been replaced. I had checked resistance on the coil many times per the Haynes manual (even compared my 4.3 to my 5.7 and they were around the same, just a tad low vs the specification.) 4.3 now starts with fewer cranks and runs a bit stronger. I want to say when I checked for spark the arcing was more on the orange side, instead of the blue that they recommend, but didn't think that would cause a no-start. My 5.7 has not had that issue with the damp weather problems starting, but I think I will replace the coil because it is original with over 200k miles.
I hope this helps. Oh, yeah, and replace the starter.
Take a spray bottle and spray the coil (not the wires) while idling, if it stumbles, then replace it.
Will do... just have to wait for this snow to melt. Thanks
HotWheelsBurban
Gotta have 4 doors..... Rawhide, TOTY 2023!
My truck has been pretty good lately, until today. It wouldn't start for three hours this evening, then when the wrecker showed up, it started right up! It's very humid here in the Houston suburbs, and this truck doesn't like humidity much (good luck with that on the gulf coast! ). I've had vehicles before that the starter acted up in hot weather or on hot starts, but not when it's in the 50s and raining. I'm going pull the starter off and get it checked out, will also check on the coil cause it's probably the original one. Thanks for the tip, I'll see what it does in the morning....
Sam Cooper
Newbie
I would suspect corrosion on the bendix piston or in the cylinder of the starter solenoid. Also be sure your truck still has the brace on the back end of the starter, which bolts to the block. It keeps the starter from torquing and hanging up. It's a little thing that makes a huge difference, especially with a hot engine. Small blocks and big blocks should have them.
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