2014 Silverado Starting problems

[Woodsnut]

Also having trouble. Picked up my 2014 Silverado late October and when either the truck or outside temperature is cold (20 degrees or less), the starter spins for a long time and has trouble catching. Eventually let off the key to have it sputter for a while before starting. No problems when the engine or outside temperature is warm. Haven't been stuck so far, but taking to the dealer today.

[pm26]

Also having trouble. Picked up my 2014 Silverado late October and when either the truck or outside temperature is cold (20 degrees or less), the starter spins for a long time and has trouble catching. Eventually let off the key to have it sputter for a while before starting. No problems when the engine or outside temperature is warm. Haven't been stuck so far, but taking to the dealer today.

Are you saying that the starter spins free, i.e. the solenoid does not kick out the drive gear to engage the flywheel?

[scphilli]

Also having trouble. Picked up my 2014 Silverado late October and when either the truck or outside temperature is cold (20 degrees or less), the starter spins for a long time and has trouble catching. Eventually let off the key to have it sputter for a while before starting. No problems when the engine or outside temperature is warm. Haven't been stuck so far, but taking to the dealer today.

That sounds like a frozen flapper that has been reported a few times.

[scphilli]

double post

Edited March 11, 2014 by scphilli

[Woodsnut]

The starter sounds like it is engaging the flywheel, but even though the engine is turning, it takes a long time to start, As mentioned, I usually back off the key to have it sputter and catch. No problem once it is warm. I'm leaning toward the frozen flapper reports.

 

Did get to the dealership today and made an appointment for Friday. The service manager said they hadn't heard of such a problem.

[scphilli]

Got my truck back with the new design starter last night and all seems well. It will be single digits in the morning so I look forward to the test. Has anyone that received the new design (12655055) noticed that it seems to spin much faster than the old one? Or at least sounds like it does to me

[pm26]

New design starter = one with less grease smeared all over it?

[scphilli]

Can't really argue with you on that without any knowledge of the drawings and parts lists for the different part numbers. If you have any additonal details on the difference between a 12645045 starter and a 12655055 starter (other than origin of manufacture), we'd all be more educated on the issue if you shared with us.

 

I will say as someone that works for an OEM, there is a considerable amount of cost associated with changing a part number(drawing, parts list, first artical test, environment qual, etc......) not trivial. I would think that they would just change the revision, group number, or production build sheet if less grease was the only difference.

[michaeldc46]

Can't really argue with you on that without any knowledge of the drawings and parts lists for the different part numbers. If you have any additonal details on the difference between a 12645045 starter and a 12655055 starter (other than origin of manufacture), we'd all be more educated on the issue if you shared with us.

 

I will say as someone that works for an OEM, there is a considerable amount of cost associated with changing a part number(drawing, parts list, first artical test, environment qual, etc......) not trivial. I would think that they would just change the revision, group number, or production build sheet if less grease was the only difference.

I have had good success with an out of stock old part #12645040 ..........to replace a non working starter of the same part number. This part number is also for 2013 GM trucks and they have not had a problem like we are seeing now with the 2014 GM trucks in the cold north. Only empirical evidence, but sure looks like Valeo did something "different" in their plant to cause this problem for the 2014's. Any process change Valeo made should have gone through PFMEA (Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis), but they may have missed the "high humidity" or "too much grease" conditions that may be the root cause(s) of the non functioning starters. GM must have put Valeo on notice and went after a second supplier of the "redesigned" starter - at great expense to GM, not to mention the wrath that Valeo is probably facing. The frustrating issues is that GM knows the high probability root cause of the non start condition - a truck with a non start condition should be checked at the dealer for 1.Battery condition 2.Proper connection of both battery cables at battery and termination points 3. High resistance of the positive battery cable .....if all is ok here then change the starter to the #12655055 part ...........4 hours DONE (no overnight - duplicate the problem "hokeypokey"), out the door and a better all around situation for the new owner, the dealer and GM. Why are dealers still screwing around with the new owners - GM needs to tell ALL the dealers the proper remedy.

[pm26]

I have only read about two possible causes of starter failure in cold climates:

 

1. ineffective environmental seal, causing moisture to enter the starter motor and freeze, rendering the starter inoperative.

 

2. Too much grease smeared on conductive parts of the starter causing high resistance and inoperative starter

 

It appears that the new part number starter has both of these deficiencies corrected.

[michaeldc46]

I have only read about two possible causes of starter failure in cold climates:

 

1. ineffective environmental seal, causing moisture to enter the starter motor and freeze, rendering the starter inoperative.

 

2. Too much grease smeared on conductive parts of the starter causing high resistance and inoperative starter

 

It appears that the new part number starter has both of these deficiencies corrected.

When my old non functioning starter was pulled off I checked out the seal very carefully and found it to be very well sealed - the dealer did try an overnight bake out procedure with this starter and it still would not work in very cold conditions. I think that the moisture was sealed in at the factory in Mexico and is causing the problem. If these style starters from Valeo, produced in Mexico have defective seals that allow moisture into the solenoid that would have produced many more failures and on some older trucks too - again, no data, just my guess. I also think that over time any moisture present in the affected starters does diffuse out at the high operation temperature of the starter when on a running engine for a longer time. I would bet that a southern truck with a potential defective starter due to sealed in moisture would not have a problem if driven for a while in the south and then came up north with the frigid conditions that we can have - again, just speculation. I would have loved to have pulled my defective starter apart to check for moisture or grease. My new starter of the same part number has performed flawlessly with many low temperature starts.

One owner had a bad ground cable that caused a no start condition - clean up and tighten the ground - start

Several owner have had high resistance in positive battery cable to the starter - change cable and - start

Some owner have had loose connections at the battery to cause a no start - tighten up and start

One owner had a defective battery - change battery - start

The dealer can run through these 4 items very quickly and then just put the new part number starter on and DONE and out the door in 4 hours - which is what I did - after the bake out procedure was tried with an overnight stay at the dealer ........... they just need to change the starter and I would have saved a trip to the dealer, the rental car (they paid), back to the dealer, pull the starter, wait 4 hours and then go home ............now happy.

[maliburay55]

Got my truck back with the new design starter last night and all seems well. It will be single digits in the morning so I look forward to the test. Has anyone that received the new design (12655055) noticed that it seems to spin much faster than the old one? Or at least sounds like it does to me

we put that starter in my 2014 a week after i got it, no problems since. that is the fix for the no crank no start. you should be good to go now ! enjoy !

[Delta Tango]

Thank you for all of this valuable information. As it is our intention this summer to leave the Dodge Ram at home and tow our Coachman Catalina travel trailer with our 2014 to some pretty remote areas of the Canadian Rockies, I have no alternative but to buy a starter (using your part numbers) and pack it with us. I have a host of tools I carry anyway so that won't be an issue.

And where we go means no cell service. OnStar? Unlikely. A GM dealer....hours away.

Gosh, I'm really glad I bought this thing..........

[michaeldc46]

Thank you for all of this valuable information. As it is our intention this summer to leave the Dodge Ram at home and tow our Coachman Catalina travel trailer with our 2014 to some pretty remote areas of the Canadian Rockies, I have no alternative but to buy a starter (using your part numbers) and pack it with us. I have a host of tools I carry anyway so that won't be an issue.

And where we go means no cell service. OnStar? Unlikely. A GM dealer....hours away.

Gosh, I'm really glad I bought this thing..........

Not easy to change the starter on the road. If you have driven it for a while it should be fine in the cold Canadian Rockies. If you are still worried, just put the new part number starter on now and have that peace of mind.

[nahulu77]

My Silverado 2014 is in the shop right now. Went to start the truck, it didn't wanna start, did it a couple times, then it started, but on the dash, the "theft deterrent system" light came on. Called the dealer, they said to bring it in. But guess what, when I went to take it to the dealers, the truck didn't even start, no lights, no nothing, had to have it towed. It got down to dealers, and it starts up, they told nothing was popping up on the computer. I told them about the "theft deterrent light", so they tried again and it didn't start., they said their going to check the voltage and call back tomorrow. Hate this waiting game!!!!!!! S#it!!!