stater shim

For the people who have replaced the starter on our wonderful little power houses, did you have shims with your starter. My starter takes a minute to catch the flywheel (the gear dosen't want to engage the flywheel) , it's not missing teeth, I've checked. The starter catches eventually but takes a minute. It would be of great help if someone who has done this could tell me how their's is shimed, something to get me going the right way...

Thanks guys...

oh and where and how much did the shim kit cost if it wasn't with the starter, I received the car like this. problem isn't the starter flywheel or electronic. but a misalignment of the gear and flwheel(99% positive)

Yea I dont know anything about the autos... but i just did the clutch on my 84 and i didnt see any shims when i removed the starter. If your having trouble with your starter catching (as long as its not grinding) I would say your starter is beginning to go out. The little "thing" that pops out to catch your flywheel is starting to stick.

The starters on both the Autos, and the manuals are the same, the only difference is the length of the bolts that hold them to the block. Now as far as shims go, A) I haven't seen any, and B) if it eventually does go, then the gear is meshing with the flywheel. I would have to agree with chunks that the solenoid is probably starting to let go...however to test it, you can take the starter to Autozone (US) or good old Canadian Tire (up here in snow country), and you can have them test it for free...

Also to both of you, can you please update your Location...8)

Yeah, it sounds like the bendix isn't coming out far enough.

Nothing shim-ish on the fiche either.

Is it standard practice to shim a starter? Never heard of it before.

Yeah, it sounds like the bendix isn't coming out far enough.

Nothing shim-ish on the fiche either.

Is it standard practice to shim a starter? Never heard of it before.

As far as i know (the cars ive worked on... 84 celebrity 88 camaro 89 blazer) all the older gm models have shims, I havent worked on a newer model gm though. But ive never seen one in any jap cars (the only starters ive ever replaced though were for a 89 mazda 929, 88 honda accord, 96 maxima, and of course my 84 200sx). And i dont know anything about mopar or ford.

I only work on Mopars and Nissans 8)

You'd be amazed how similar they are

ok guys i just spent all this money...well if it takes a min or too well i had that problem
#1 could be the wrong starter
#2 if ur starter was fked up befor and fked up ur flyweel the fly weel is fked look at teh teeth on it that shoudl be it
#3 check out the alighnment of the starter

I think I know what the problem is. I just remembered the other day that when I went to check the prices a while back the guy at Auto Bone asked me what size gear I needed on the starter, he gave like two choices, and when I bought the car the guy said that he had the starter replaced not too long ago then the starter started having problems. So I'm guessing the jacka$$ that replaced it last put the wrong one on. Guess I'll drop about 150 bones and find out...

P.s. I hate when stupid ppl work on cars, or anything.

If you have the ca18et or ca20 the only options are......

Direct Drive
or
Gear Reduction

They both work on these engines. The gear reduction type usually cost more, and is suppose to be more powerful. I had no luck with them.....I had 2 brand new Bosch gear reductions in a 2 week period, and they only lasted a week each before the solinoid crapped out.
The direct drive type cranks the car just fine, and is what came originally on my ca18. They are usually only about $70 - $80 for a remanufactured one from Auto Zone, or Kragen and come with a lifetime warranty. I've had mine on there for around 4 months now, and it's worked perfect everytime.
Oh yeah........no shims are needed for the S12.