89 Sierra starter is stuck

SilverBulletSS · November 28, 2011

Hey guys, I finally traced the problem of my truck not starting, it seems the starter fried and it turn killed the battery, problem is I can't get the starter off, took both mounting bolts off and the starter slides back about a quarter of an inch. There is nothing in the way I have a good four inches of clearance behind the starter. I thought about lightly tapping it with a hammer as I'm assuming with all the rust down there its just snagged?

Also found what caused all the issues, the positive cable running from the battery to the starter was completely corroded thru, at the starter, when I looked from up top I noticed the cable was just laying there covered in green calcium powder, seems it just popped of when I kept trying to start it. So I purchased a new cable.

Anyway back to point, am I safe tapping this thing as I try to get it free? Do I risk damaging anything else? It's gonna snow here pretty soon and I need this thing running....

gmtech4 · November 29, 2011

uummm,,its not meant to be beat on ,you're missing something bud

SilverBulletSS · November 29, 2011

Never said I was going to "BEAT" on it just lightly tap it to break free some rust, regardless I got it out without having to "BEAT" on it, the actual mounting bolts were so rusted they looked like they had backed all the way out, one of them was just snagged up there, got the starter off in about five minutes and now she's up and running...

gmtech4 · November 29, 2011

glad the internet helped......i guess???? lol

i didnt UPSET you responding to what you where inquiring to DID I ???

glad ya got it newbi !! disrespectfull kid !!

SS owners = _)*&^%$#$^&*(^%#$%^&*( !!!!!

lol

relax pal

SilverBulletSS · November 29, 2011

Upset me? Not at all, why would you say a thing like that, I was just emphasizing on your "beat on" term as you commented on the post, yet, had nothing knowledgable to say. If you didn't have advice or direction you should've just kept your mouth shut. The forum is called ask the gm tech, not the resident wannabe know it all.

And yes, us SS owners, what slimeballs we are running around in our "special" trucks thinking we are above everyone. And FYI, a newb is someone who doesn't know shit, I've been working on cars since I was fifteen, all I had was a simple question. I was caught in a bind.

Go take a midol bud!

ChevyTech77 · November 29, 2011

Just playing devils advocate here a bit, and not trying to "take anybody's side" in the arguement but, if you've been wrenching on vehicles sense you're 15, and the starter was being held up by a stuck starter bolt, how old are you and why did you have to ask what was holding the starter? I ask because someone that knows what they are doing with a simple starter replacement should know that there is nothing there that can hold the starter up like that other than a bolt still in the block or the starter body hitting an obstruction.

Now, while I in no way condone what govtech has said or implied, I think that I would be carefull about beating my chest about what I know, when the question you had was simply answered by further investigation by yourself and solved by something that someone that knows what they are doing under a vehicle, should already know or be able to figure out with a mechanical mind and watchful eye.

Just saying.

SilverBulletSS · November 29, 2011

I agree with you, it was a novice mistake on my half, I just got frustrated with the job, I've worked on all my own cars and family members cars since I was 15 I'm 30 now. I've just never had a started not pop out offer removing the mounting bolts. This thing has so much rust underneath it I assumed that's what was hanging it up, that's why I asked. After calming down and coming back to it later with actually sunlight and not a drop light is when I noticed one bolt was marginally still protruding from the top of the starter causing it to get caught up when I tried to slide the starter out. I pulled down on it as I turned it, and like butter the starter came out. I was just curious as to if rust would've Hung it up.