2001 GMC Yukon Starting Issues

[Doubeleive]

ya what Ks03 said you could unbolt the starter and have a look and/or maybe turn the harmonic balancer with a ratchet and see if you can hear the noise

 

[HiHoeSilver]

ya what Ks03 said you could unbolt the starter and have a look and/or maybe turn the harmonic balancer with a ratchet and see if you can hear the noise

Good idea.

 

[wjburken]

Now I can reply... how weird. Had a quick question for anybody who looked at my video on YouTube. The sound that you heard, if in fact my starter needs a shim, what exactly is going on? and the sound that you all heard in the video, how are you able to differentiate that sound as a "potential" starter issue, and not an actual engine knock sound?

Glad you got you IT stuff straightened out.

As for listening to the video and being able to differentiate between possible causes, that comes from experience and learning from people. If you spend enough time around engines or other types machinery, you start to learn their “language”. It’s not always 100%, but that along with the context of the noise, such as what had just been changed, it can get you close. Your noise sounds like gear teeth slipping and you just replaced your starter which has a gear that meshes with your flex plate.

There are guys on here that know a heck of a lot more about these vehicles than i ever will and I read what they say and I learn from that. When people post about there problems and then what the solution was, I learn from that. I’m learning stuff about my vehicle all the time. I also have 20+ years of experience designing, building and troubleshooting industrial equipment.

 

[07Burb]

But you could edit your older post? Weird. We can ask @07Burb or @NathanJax

yep....just let us know what you'd like edited.

 

[TruckerSteve1986]

Hi all;

Sorry for the lack of response. I've been really busy at work. However I've uploaded 2 images of the pack of shims I bought. Any idea on what size I should use/start out with? How many? Going to be installing this weekend. Thanks everyone and stay safe

 

[Tonyrodz]

Hi all;

Sorry for the lack of response. I've been really busy at work. However I've uploaded 2 images of the pack of shims I bought. Any idea on what size I should use/start out with? How many? Going to be installing this weekend. Thanks everyone and stay safe

View attachment 245403 View attachment 245404

If it was me I'd start out with the smallest, then work my way up to the next size. Need to eyeball and listen for what it sounds like after the shim(s) is installed, and when you crank it.

 

[Fless]

Has the replacement starter been bench tested? It could be that the gear isn't retracting fully. Most auto shops will test them for free, and there are many videos on how to DIY. If it's new, take it back to the store and have them test it.

 

[Doubeleive]

I saw a set of shims at autozone the other day I didn't look at the price but I know they carry them and the only reason it even passed my mind because I was thinking of upgrading the starter on the Silverado and had watched part of a video on jegs on how to shim a starter, you might check youtube for some pointers.

 

[wjburken]

Have you inspected the teeth on your starter and flex plate to see if there is any damage or marks on them to indicate if it’s a meshing issue which shims may help with, or an issue with the bendix not retracting fully which shims will do nothing for.

I agree with @Fless. You need to test the starter to see that it is retracting completely.