Starter Noise Diagnosis. Chevrolet Tahoe

For 1990-2009 cars only

Makes 🢒 Chevrolet 🢒 1996 🢒 Tahoe - 4WD 🢒 Engine 🢒 Engine Electrical 🢒 Starter Noise Diagnosis

Starter Noise Diagnosis General Diagnosis

Step	Action	Value	Yes	No
1	Do you hear a high pitched whine during cranking (before the engine fires) but the engine cranks and fires normally?	--	Go to Step 2	Go to Step 3
2	Reduce the distance between the starter pinion and the flywheel. Refer to Starter Noise. Has the noise stopped?	--	System OK	--
3	As the key is being turned, do you hear a high-pitched whine after the engine fires? (The engine cranks and fires normally. This is often diagnosed as starter hang-in or a weak solenoid.)	--	Go to Step 4	Go to Step 5
4	Increase the distance between the starter pinion and the flywheel. Refer to Starter Noise. (Flywheel runout makes this appear to be intermittent.) Has the noise stopped?	--	System OK	--
5	Is there a loud "whoop" after the engine fires, but while the starter is still held engaged? (It may sound like a siren if the engine is revved while the starter is engaged.)	--	Go to Step 6	Go to Step 7
6	Remove the starter motor. Refer to Starter Motor Replacement. Check the starter motor clutch. Replace worn parts. Has the noise stopped?	--	System OK	--
7	Do you hear a "rumble", a "growl", or, in severe cases, a "knock" as the starter is coasting down to a stop after starting the engine?	--	Go to Step 8	System OK
8	Remove the starter motor. Refer to Starter Motor Replacement. Check for a bent or unbalanced starter armature. Replace worn parts. Has the noise stopped?	--	System OK	--

Pinion Clearance

Remove the lower flywheel housing cover.
Inspect the flywheel for signs of unusual wear such as chipped or missing gear teeth or the flywheel being bent.
Start the engine and gently touch the outside diameter of the rotating flywheel ring gear with chalk or crayon to show the high point of tooth runout after the engine is turned off. Turn the engine off and rotate the flywheel so the marked teeth are in the area of the starter pinion gear.
Disconnect the negative battery cable to prevent accidental cranking of the engine.
Measure the clearance between the top of the ring gear tooth and the bottom of the pinion tooth using the width of a wire gage or standard feeler stock. Normal clearance is 0.5 to 1.5 mm (0.02 to 0.06 inch).
If clearance is less than 0.5 mm (0.02 inch), and the starter whines after firing, shim the starter away from the flywheel.

•	Add 1.0 mm (0.04 inch) shims, one at a time, to both long bolts between starter mounting pads and the engine until the noise problem is corrected. Do not use more than 2 shims total.

If the pinion clearance is more than 1.5 mm (0.06 inch) and the starter whines during cranking, shim the starter toward the flywheel.

•	Add 0.33 mm (0.014 inch) shims between the outboard starter mounting pad and the engine mount until the noise stops. Do not add more than 4 shims total.

Tighten

•	Mounting bolts (diesel) to 45 N·m (33 lb ft).

•	Mounting bolts (gas) to 40 N·m (30 lb ft).