# Thought I fixed that crazy starter!

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/thought-i-fixed-that-crazy-starter/28577>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** starters\
**Created:** [March 31, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thought-i-fixed-that-crazy-starter/28577 "2009-03-31T20:57:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pmkirkland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@pmkirkland](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pmkirkland)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thought-i-fixed-that-crazy-starter/28577/1 "2009-03-31T20:57:35Z")

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I just put a new starter motor into my 1990 Buick LeSabre (the old one was definitely bad). It starts up great now every time (whew!) BUT it squeals/chatters for about 3-4 seconds every time it starts. Someone mentioned it may be missing a shim, but I didn’t see any come off with the old one. Any thoughts? What in the world is causing the squealing??

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thought-i-fixed-that-crazy-starter/28577/2 "2009-03-31T21:06:52Z")

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I went through the same thing with a V8 Caprice; the rebuilt starter did not mesh well enough with the flywheel. In my case a new flywheel and starter were needed; the garage compensated me partly for the extra cost. Most starters need one or more shims to make the gears mesh correctly.

My advice is to take it back to a good shop before you wreck the flywheel. A genuine GM starter would probably mesh better.

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thought-i-fixed-that-crazy-starter/28577/3 "2009-03-31T21:17:36Z")

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Here are the instruction on starter replacement, and shimming, you need: [http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?fromSearchPage=true&pageId=0900c152800b11fd&partName=Starter&partId=0900c152800b11fd](http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?fromSearchPage=true&pageId=0900c152800b11fd&partName=Starter&partId=0900c152800b11fd)

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**Author:** ![pmkirkland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@pmkirkland](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pmkirkland)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thought-i-fixed-that-crazy-starter/28577/4 "2009-04-01T00:46:18Z")

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Thanks for the guide…very helpful…looks like its off to the dealership to find some shims. My symptoms seem to indicate I need at least one set. I’ll keep you posted.

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**Author:** ![pmkirkland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@pmkirkland](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pmkirkland)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thought-i-fixed-that-crazy-starter/28577/5 "2009-04-01T14:26:45Z")

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So I put two shims in…scraped before the car even started (from what I read, that means I went too far) So I put in only one shim…it still squeals after it starts for about 1 second…better than no shim, but still not right. Any ideas now? Must be somewhere between 1 and 2 shims. Is there anything else to adjust? Thanks!