My starter on a 2000 was sticking, keeping the starter engaged to the flex plate.
Sounds awful. Turning the ignition off , and the starter keeps cranking.
Reving up the engine sometimes makes the bendix disengage. *PROBABLY* there are bad contacts in the bendix that sometimes weld shut .

 

Ok, back again. I getting to be sure its the alternator. I took belt off and turned some pulleys and the alternator did give a little noise, but still spun freely. Will the bearings cease up on me someday if I let it go, or will it just get worse and worse? I am looking to take a trip about 300 miles away from home. Do you think I will be ok or should I replace it? Should I replace the belt, tensioner, and pulley with it too? Or just wasting money?

 

Alternator bushings/bearings can seize, sometimes without any notice. Who knows though, they might go for a long time making noise. Typically the tensioner, belt & idler pulley are good for 100K miles, after that, you're on borrowed time

 

Yes, Captain Hook, it actually was the starter drive not retracting. The retracting spring was not working. The TP roll can now head down the toilet. It only helped me misdiagnosed the problem. I now am now pissed. First at me for misdiagnosing the problem. I replaced the alternator, and with that the belt, and the 2 pulleys. I thought it was the alternator, because it seemed the noise came from there and I took the belt off and it squeaked a little when turned by hand. The belt was on since I had it so it was probably original. Being its over 11 years and over 107,000 miles it needed that anyways. When I first said something in 2009, it was a year that I put the last starter on and I could had it replaced under warranty. The parts store was at least willing to give me 15% off, but I went to an auto electric shop who replaced it for me today, and they were very reasonable. This as been an expensive year for the Blazer and I hope that next year will be better.

 

Sorta went thru same thing a few weeks ago....


Something was squealing and I was convinced it was the alternator or compressor. Removed belt and was ready to start replacing both. My neighbor (old car mech) came over and said try replacing the belt since its the cheapest. Didn't think belt was bad cuz it looked "brand new". $35 later, no more noise.


So glad I didn't spend $$ that didn't need to spent.

 

At least you made a whole lot better than I did. And the replacement was a lot cheaper. I thought it had to be the alternator, because I took the belt off and spun the alternator by hand and it squeaked a little. The belt needed replacement anyways, and I did the usual idler pulley and belt tensioner with that. Over 107,000 miles and over 11 years on the belt. I wouldn't call that part waste.