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1996 Buick LeSabre intermittent starting noise
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wildirish
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Sep 12, 2018, 5:27 PM
Post #1 of 4
(1469 views)
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1996 Buick LeSabre intermittent starting noise
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I have a 1996 Buick LeSabre Custom. The starter was replaced with a remanufactured starter in 2011.
About 5 or 6 times, I started the car and it made a nasty scraping noise...similar to when you try to start the car when it's already running, by mistake.
I took it to a mechanic who checked it, and said he couldn't find anything wrong. He said he cleaned the starter parts and ran a test. On the bill, he wrote:
Test starter circuit voltage drop
0.342V Tests good (+) side
0.317V Tests good (-) side
It starts okay now, but I worry that the starter is going to fail when I least expect it. Because I can't imagine why a starter would cause that loud, scraping noise unless there was a problem.
I'm not a mechanic, I'm just wanting to know what might be going on. I'm not entirely confident that this mechanic knows what he's doing, so I'd like to get opinions of other knowledgeable people.
One mechanic said that dirt MIGHT cause this problem, and I haven't heard the noise since this latest mechanic cleaned the starter. But I'm a bit skeptical....
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 12, 2018, 5:37 PM
Post #2 of 4
(1463 views)
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Re: 1996 Buick LeSabre intermittent starting noise
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You got nearly 8 years on a reman starter. It sounds like the solenoid may be getting weak ad not fully engaging into the flywheel at times.
The big concern here is not getting stuck with a bad starter. It's that bad starter grinding the teeth off the flywheel and then instead of simply changing a starter, you will be removing a transmission to replace a flywheel along with the starter.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 12, 2018, 8:14 PM
Post #3 of 4
(1452 views)
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Re: 1996 Buick LeSabre intermittent starting noise
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Quote wildirish: ">
About 5 or 6 times, I started the car and it made a nasty scraping noise...similar to when you try to start the car when it's already running, by mistake. <"
That's enough warning if you don't want surprises or get stuck - make it worse like Hammer Time said can wreck the "flywheel" get rid of it now for another.
You are pushing into territory of how well you've taken care of this car all along and redoing things already done a second or third time if you count on this car time to go thru it looking for assorted troubles coming IMO.
I recall a PS and or transmission oil cooler or both runs where crud could build up, rot out or be damaged on these and similar vehicles of around there. Check or do what's needed now most went bad, leaked were surprises too.
Starter is a machine of it's own very important not to fail so is most anything! IDK. it's your car and $$ I'd probably just do it proactively checking "flywheel" now if damaged now or worn at least know it,
T
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wildirish
User
Sep 14, 2018, 2:59 PM
Post #4 of 4
(1406 views)
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Re: 1996 Buick LeSabre intermittent starting noise
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Damage to the flywheel is what I'm especially concerned about.
Unfortunately, I'm working with Vocational Rehab (I'm disabled and they help with car repairs while you hunt for a job). I can only go to the mechanics they send me to, because I can't afford to go to a good mechanic. And if I can't afford a starter, I sure can't afford the expense of replacing the flywheel, as well!
I'm going to contact VR next week and show them you guys' posts, to help bolster my argument that the mechanic SHOULD have done something. Maybe they'll send me to another mechanic they're contracted with.
Because this guy charged VR $78 and essentially did nothing.
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