Hi everyone. I have a 84 GSL-SE and my starter has started to make a really bad screeching/grinding/whining noise when I start my car. after a few times trying with the noise happening it starts. I hasn't failed to start yet but I'm sure it will soon.

I'm wondering if that is for sure the starter and isn't the flywheel like my dad said it could be. Is there a way to tell easily?

Also, how hard would it be to replace the starter myself? any kind of how-to or pictures or walkthroughs would be so very greatly appreciated

I'm in college now and I don't have much money to fix this dang thing, finding enough to keep gas in it is incredibly hard as it is. if I'm able to find a used starter is another question, (If anyone has one email me please! cssrules@gmail.com)

Thanks you guys, every time I got a problem you never fail to help. I'll check back tonight to see what ya guys think.

Thanks,
Matt

 

IIRC It's simple, jack up the car, it's on the driver side of the transmission, It's held in with two 14mm bolts, and there are 2 electrical connections on it (power and ground.)

You can do it in under 10 minutes.

 

^ Ditto. I replaced mine. THE simplest starter R/R I've ever done. It was a lot easier than my '90 S-10 4.3L. You won't have any problems with replacing it.

 

Holy cow if you drink 2 cases of beer it might get a little tricky lol. Its easy as pie and a new one shouldnt set you back more than a 100 bucks. I know your in school but go donate something.....plasma or other

 

hah - "plazma or other" What, you think that kind of thing would interest a COLLEGE student? ; )
I went to replace mine but it was something like 20 and my gravel driveway with two inches of snow and slush on top was not an inviting place to do it... sometimes money's easier to part with though it was friggin expensive.

 

^^^^ like they said it's fairly easy to swap the starter. Get a flashlight and check the teeth on the flywheel through the hole for the starter. You'll see some wear, but ususally the starter gear is the one that starts to wear first.

 

As a fellow college student, + 1 for plasma, fifty bucks in yo pocket... thats most of a remanufactured starter right there, go back three days later and shazam! your "new" starter is paid for, and all you had to do was sit in a chair. magical.

and they give you free food.

as for the other......

 

Before you go replacing your starter, take the time to clean up the connections of the battery cables, both at the battery and at the starter. A loose or corroded connection can cause all kinds of issues. My starter was failing to engage until I replaced the positive cable, then all was fine...

 

^^^^^ and make sure the bolts are tight on the starter.

 

I had that problem, too. Turns out, my positive cable was not making a proper connection. Got a new one, 15 minutes of labor, started up just fine.

 

yeah, check connections and see if the starter is loose.

 

The starter I put in my SE 25k ago is from the local Pick 'n Pull and cost me $15. Nice thing about the PnP is that you get to practice removal on their car so you know how to do the re-install on your car.