Starter - Fails to Engage

91olds02

NUMBER: 91-T-76

CORP.REF.NO: 036404R

DATE: March 1991

SECTION: 6D


SUBJECT: GRINDING NOISE, NO START, STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE, NEW DRIVE ASSEMBLY


MODELS/YEARS: 1991 CUSTOM CRUISER, BRAVADA AND SILHOUETTE, ALSO 1991 CUTLASS SUPREME WHEN EQUIPPED WITH 3.1L (VIN T) ENGINE


CONDITION: Some owners of the vehicles mentioned below may comment about hard starting, grinding or a clash noise during an attempted start of the engine. The starter may not properly engage the ring gear. A loud grinding noise occurs and the engine does not crank. The engine may crank normally on repeated attempts to start.

MODEL ENGINE APPUCATIONS (YIN)

Custom Cruiser 5.0 L03 (E)
Cutlass Supreme 3.1 LHO (T)
Bravada 4.3 LB4 (Z)
Silhouette 3.1 LG6 (D)

CAUSE: The spring in early design SD210/SD260 starter drives may compress too easily. This may keep the drive pinion gear from snapping into mesh with the ring gear as the starter motor starts to turn.

CORRECTION: Follow the unit repair manual (Section 6D2) and replace the starter motor drive assembly with part number 10473700. Inspect the flywheel for signs of milling or material loss at the engagement points. Repair as required.

The new starter drive with the stronger spring has been released for all SD210 and SD260 starters.

Parts are currently available from GMSPO.