S Blazer Starter Problems
 

Ladies and Gents,

I have a 1989 Chevy S Blazer 4x4 with the 4.3 and auto tranny.

My starter went out about a week ago, so naturally I pulled it off and put an new one on it. Griiiiiiiiiiiiiiind. Ok, let's shim it!

Shims didn't fit the gear reduction starter.

I went back to Autozone and looked for shims. The solenoid was in the way. Sooooo... I got to looking at the book, the old way (I used to work at Autozone and am still granted access). Seems that the gear reduction starter was only supposed to be used on the 2wd models for whatever reason. Ok, get a huge refund and a regular, direct drive starter.

Direct drive starter worked for a day, then griiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind up at the convenience store. After not being able to get ahold of my dear fiance who was dead asleep, I pushed the truck home and hurt my back in the process.

I pulled the starter and the flywheel had been eating the nose cone, and no amount of shimming seemed to help.

Sooooo... I went and got a starter for a 2.8. The drive is the same but fires out a bit further (I had chipped a few teeth with initial new starter). Also pulled the flywheel cover (thus the knowledge of the chipped teeth).

Wellllll... 2.8 starter worked fine for a few seconds but the flywheel was dragging on the front starter bushing. Tomorrow I have plans to really shim the thing.

However.... and this is really what gets me.... either the flywheel has pulled away from the engine (with the tranny, rear main, and all the goodies on the front of the crank holding it in place), or it has warped, or Autozone's nosecones are short. Before anyone asks, I did turn it over by hand and the flywheel is still true. So no warped flywheel (hate pulling trannies back).

In other words... the starter gear is not firing out far enough (or the nosecone is not long enough) and no starter specified for that vehicle or any other S-10 +/- 5 years seems to fit it.

I have a feeling the current one will work but I'll have to shim it out so far it feels like jury riggin' to me.

Does anyone have any experience on this particular problem? If so, comments?

Thank you,

Josh <><

RE: S Blazer Starter Problems
 

Here's solved the problem: I took a 2.8L starter and shimmed it down until I had correct gear contact. The bendix was the same as the 4.3.

The flywheel then spun the front starter bushing. I shimmed the side closest to the oil pan a bit more and I still have good engagement and no problems.

They shortened the nosecone on the 4.3 starters. I'm not sure why. I understand that the ones with the iron nose cones are still OK.

I feel like a hilljack (I'm a professional auto tech by trade, independent) but I'm limited to where I can get parts. Autozone pretty much rules the town for auto parts.

Thank you for your input.

Josh <><

RE: S Blazer Starter Problems
 

I am glad that you found your problem Josh. I guess I am lucky in that I have 4 autoparts stores to choose from (Advanced Auto, Autozone (ugh), Napa, and CarQuest). Of those, I have had very good luck with Napa, Advanced and CarQuest. The staff at Autozone is about as automotive illiterate as I can stand so I try to stay away from them unless I'm getting some off the shelf stuff that I can find myself.

I recently had a bout with a starter in a '83 Firebird 2.8L v6. It took 2 full shim packs to get the check block between the starter shaft and the flywheel! This starter came from Autozone (I didn't buy it, the kid that owned the car did). If autozone is having problems with their parts, that is more of a reason for me to stay away!

RE: S Blazer Starter Problems
 

Glad you got it fixed.
I didn't have any problems with the Autozone starter I bought for my '87 2.8L V6. That is after I removed the shims. When I had the shims in there it ground, I took them out and no problems. Other then its a pain in the butt to get at the starter.

I prefer Autozone over the rest. Advanced and O'Rielly's around here hire kids who don't know crap, while AutoZone hires older guys that have been there done, that before. I would go to Napa, however they close early and the nearest store is in a neighboring town. Not real quick or easy to get to, especially on the weekends when I do my work at home. They close at noon on Saturday and are not open on Sunday.

RE: S Blazer Starter Problems
 

Let's give a big "BOOOOOOOO!!!!" to AutoZone bashing...

I've had no complaints fitment-wise on any of the starters I've sold lately, must be an isolated problem. Josh, if you worked there then you know how regional AZ is.

That's a little odd that you had so many fitment problems though man. I'm glad you got it worked out.