New starter noise. - now, what can make a starter only click?

[chalet2506]

Put a new starter on my 72 Jimmy today and it whines for just a second after the truck starts. I figured out after I put the new starter in that the old starter was fine, problem was a little bit of corrosion where the cable was clamped into the pos battery terminal (looked fine from the outside).

The new starter is a Napa reman, the old one I'm not sure, but its definitely not a Delco.

My brother says put the old one back in, my mechanic buddy says leave the new one as the noise isn't a big deal. I don't mind swapping them back out, but if the new ones fine, I'd rather leave it as no tellin how long the other ones been in or going to last.

Help a brother out.

 

[bradshawtech]

I bet that it is ok to leave it. I have had starters that made that sound as well, I think that it is the bendix winding down after it disengages.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Many times you need to shim the starter otherwise it makes a horrendous noise when cranking and it will eventually break the starter nose off. I would take it to the parts store and have them listen to it and if they will return it as defective then try another starter and if it makes the same noise then try shimming it and if that doesn't work then just run it until it either breaks or goes bad but keep your old starter as a working back-up for when this current one takes a dump on you.

 

[bradshawtech]

Good info on the shims but he said that it whines after the motor starts so thats why I thought it was just the bendix winding down.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Good info on the shims but he said that it whines after the motor starts so thats why I thought it was just the bendix winding down.

The problem could be that the starter needs to be shimmed because it is too tight and not allowing the bendix to release properly.

 

[chalet2506]

Its been a while, but I've heard starters that were way off and hanging. Seemed like that was a choppier, metal on metal sound. This is just a quick whining like maybe its got a stiff spring and takes a sec to disengage. Don't really know, that's why I asked.

Think I'll try shimming it.

 

[folkenheath]

The problem could be that the starter needs to be shimmed because it is too tight and not allowing the bendix to release properly.

I think he's dead on there, you need to shim it a little until it quits.

 

[Cornfield creations]

Put the shim in it. Anytime a new starter make a whine noise, it is usually needing to be shimmed. Reasons why they supply them with new starters

 

[chalet2506]

The new starter didn't have shims with it so I picked up a 3 pack at Napa. Took this time this morning and tried a few different combinations and it still made the noise. Took it backt to Napa and got another starter. Bolted it up and not as noticeable, but still has a little "whirrr" to it after it starts. **** it, I'm going to run it til something breaks.

Trimmed an inch and replaced the cable end from the starter to the battery while I was at it.

Anyway, go to start it after I go home and I get nothing but a click. Bump it a couple times and it turns over.

So, 3 starters, 2 u-joints(front driveshaft had to come off and it wasn't happy about it), one battery cable end later and I've got the same problem. Before I replace the entire cable from battery to starter, is there something else it might be?

Problem being that sometimes it only the solenoid will click when I try to start it.

 

[Fordum]

Man, I should have jumped in here sooner. A lot of times the armature will make that little whining noise when it is spinning down and has retracted.
Other times it will make that noise, or a similar noise when its binding.

The trick is to tell which is which. The easiest way, is while you have it out, put it on the ground or a workbench, brace it against the torque, and then hook a battery to it.
The best way, of course, is by running it through the solenoid like it works in the truck.
But often, just hooking power to the main lead and letting it run without the solenoid engaging will let you hear that noise.

Either way, if it does it off the truck, you can pretty much forget about binding causing the noise.

As for the clicking, I would crawl back under and examine the main power lead from the battery to be sure its hooked up to the solenoid good and tight, plus the starter lead from the solenoid to the starter for looseness before I did anything else.
You have had those off several times lately, and it likely that something got loose.

Does your truck get its main power from the starter solenoid post? If so, you can do a voltage drop test to make sure all the battery connections and cables are good.

I have posted the procedure several times, plus lots of folks here know it already, but if you need me to, let me know and I will post again.

 

[chalet2506]

Cables are tight. Its done this with three different starters now at different times so I think I'll start with new battery to starter power cable tommorow and check the grounds. If that doesn't do it, guess I'll check the ignition switch.

 

[Fordum]

Ok, any idea what the click is? If its the starter solenoid, then either you have a bad ground or power wire, or a bad solenoid.

The ignition switch turns on the solenoid, after that, its job is done as far as turning on the starter.
So, if the solenoid clicks and holds as long as you keep the key turned, the switch should be good.
If the solenoid chatters, then you have a power problem. Either the battery, cables, or ground.
If the solenoid clicks and holds, but the starter does not turn, then it should be either a bad solenoid or starter. Probably not the starter in this case, of course.

However, if the click is not the solenoid, but a power relay or something, then all bets are off.
Time to check the ignition switch.