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starter bolt missing... arghhh

theres no broken bolts in the block, the one i bought from the auto parts store which was 3/8-16 did not thread. Ill try the GM dealer but if it is stripped, its going to the mechanic and hes going to do it or pay to get the problem fixed.

I cant see how a bolt can randomly dissapear, either he forgot it or stripped it. How are the gas bolts different from the 6.2? I'm hoping the bolt i got was fitting for a gas motor and theres still hope it aint stripped...
 
Im almost sure the heads were 15mm on mine, i dont have the truck anymore but i do have some used bolts, i dont know if they will help you at all but if i find them there yours....if u want them.
 
didn't learn your lesson from the last time huh? :wink1: stop farming your work out and this wont happen.... :D
 
nope,,, im stupid. i really didnt want to pull that sucker in a foot and half of snow.. i think that might have been easier. so, the heads are metric, i imagine the treads would be too..?
 
correct.... you need to pull the starter down and inspect the hole... i hope you wheren't just trying to thread a new bolt up into a blind hole with the wrong thread.. was it going all the way into the bolt head?
 
Did you even read my post?

Wrench said:
GM diesel starter bolts are metric and unique to that block, buy them at your GM dealer. Ain't worth buying them somewhere else. :crazy:
Click to expand...

I'm not guessing, this is personal experience talking . . . .;)

Also don't use loctite, if the bolt ever breaks inside the block you'll want to shoot yourself. Don't use a tap to clean the hole, you don't want to weaken the threads. Just squirt some kind of degreaser up there so it's not oily.

Buy TWO new bolts, follow the above instructions. They stretch on install, you need to replace them each time you take the starter off. Your mechanic likely re-used the old ones and likely over stretched them. Tell him he owes you a case of beer after you finish doing it right, he'll likely appreciate knowing that there's a difference.
 
i think i feeel better. i didnt know you needed new bolts each time. when i asked what was different i meant are the threads metric as well? sounds stupid but just making sure. i didnt force anything. the bolt i bought went right into her new home and threaded, but with a little wiggle she fell out. i highly doubt i did anything and she went all the way in. i did check the hole first but ill be honest i didnt see well. he did reuse the one bolt. dealerships closed today, hope they have it in stock, things still sitting in the mall parkinglot
 
I've never bought new starter bolts for either of my 6.2's, and I can't see 45 ft/lbs being enough to stretch one of those bolts to it's yield point. I've also never lost one or had my starter come loose...

I'd suspect the bolt just wasn't tightened enough and eventually dropped out.

Rene
 
well it seems i have to wait till monday. advance auto and autozone have no love for the 6.2 and napa/gm dealerships are closed till monday. i hope they even have it stocked. the trucks been in the mall parkinglot for about almost a weekk and its always wet or snowing so trying to get her going aint fun, nor is trying to drive in this **** with my ****box civic. i swear i want to strangle this guy for taking my truck away from me when i need it.i tried loosening the starter, reattaching the bracket and tightening the one bolt and see if she starts just once so i can get her home. nope, just the whine sound. its amazing how that one bolt effects it all so much, the starter looks lined up perfect, even stuck a rod in the empty hole to check. bah..
 
it wont be the bolt then.... sounds like the bendix is stuck... pull it out and bench test it on the grd next to the truck, pair of jumper cables or booster pack...

heck, 1/2 the bolts are out.... :wink1:
 
They bench tested it at the starter place and it was fine they said. I mean how far off does it have to be for it not to work? Hitting it a few times with a hammer didnt work either. Im very hesitant to have it towed because thats money i dont want to burn and if i dont have the bolt then whats the use? I doubt the place that ****ed mes gonna agree to pay for a tow, and id still need to grab a bolt. Argh
 
yeah, but you've been starting it with a bolt out.... that can easily fubar a bendix shaft since it was installed.......
 
True, well they gave me a new one, i only tried it like once or twice. I think im going to buy 4 new bolts. Ill try throwing 2 new ones in and giving it a start and see if starts, otherwise its back to the starershop again. Cant test it with jumpers, need 24 volts, guess i can use both batts

Trouble is its cold, wet and snowing, and it its not the ground is soaked and its 20 degrees out. I dont want to have to pull the starter again haha/
 
im worried im gonna need to pull the starter again and get it tested, how off does it have to be for it not work? I mean are we talking milimeter differences that when i look at it, its not lined up when it looks like it? Or does it have to be off by a noticeable difference for it not to work? As i said, the truck seemed to work all week after i got it back, maybe the bolt was in and fell out, espcially considering how tempermental it is without the bolt now
 
If you have been starting it or running the starter with only one bolt in it, then chances are that the shaft is bent, or the bendix gear is chewed up. It doesn't take much wear/misalignment for that gear to not engage. I have been through this myself, didn't get the bolts tight enough, one backed off and fell out and I kept using the starter (until I could get a new bolt) and ended up having to replace the starter and eventually the flexplate. Stop trying to start it, until you get new bolts. Also, if you replace the starter, check the new one out before you buy it. I noticed that alot of starter have a big opening around the bendix gear, and very few have alot more meat around the gear. Try to get the one with more metal, the starter will flex less and last longer.
 
Yeah i only tried twice with the new one, and im waiting till i get both bolts in. Yeah, my old case had alot of meat around the starter gear, and the new ones dont. Could that be it? I really hope i didnt damage the starter, the truck never turned over, just heard those whirl sounds.

I really hope i dont get the new bolts in and have to drop the starter if she dosnt work. Furthermore if i do have to drop the starter and bring it back for another, i hope it works because with new bolts and starters and no go I'm really gonna kill someone..
 
Why don't you just call the shop that installed the starter and tell them what's going on and ask them how they want to handle it since THEY just put this starter in for you. I understand that they might not be open until monday with the holidays and all but that is the FIRST thing i would do.
 
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