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Getting "already started" noise when starting

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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 11:36 AM
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Getting "already started" noise when starting

1989 f150 xlt lariat 5.0 v8. When turning key to start truck its making that classic screeching sound like it's already started. The key has been hard to turn prior to this happening. I'm guessing it has something to do with the pins that the lock hits when moving from off start run? Can anyone start me off on the right path to fixing it so I know what I'm looking for? I've had the steering wheel off before and glanced around the lock cylinder but haven't worked on one yet. Thanks!
 
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 03:44 PM
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From: Rehoboth MA
could be the way the starter is shimmed.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 03:45 PM
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From: Rehoboth MA
or either a bad drive clutch in the starter
 
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 04:29 PM
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Turn the key on and jump the starter solonoid with a screwdriver.
That takes key out of picture.
Grinding = bad starter drive ,or worst yet ring gear on flywheel or flexplate.

Jim
 
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 04:54 PM
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forgot...........it can start stay clear!
 
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 05:45 PM
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Thanks. The starter is only couple months old, mechanic put that in. I do need to start it somehow to move it, when I jump the solenoid which part do I need to make contact with exactly? I should add when replacing the turn signal switch I did look at the ignition a little just to inspect it, not pulling the lock all the way out but just loosening that holding screw. I retightened it just as it was but i thought maybe I jiggled something when being in there. Previously the stop lever had broken and my mechanic charged me a fortune to fix that so I was just inspecting it out of curiousity.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 07:04 PM
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From: Rehoboth MA
your mechanic couldve dropped it. this happened at a shop ive worked at before, the guy dropped the starter and it what doing what your saying.
 
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 11:01 AM
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Ok, tried jumping it this morning with the screwdriver and it made the same noise so its obviously something in the starter/flywheel/clutch area. So what to do now - like I said mechanic just put new starter in earlier this year. I'd have to pay to tow it to get it to him so if I can at least check it out myself before going through that hassle I'd like to. What do I check next to narrow down the options. Is there a way to check to see if the starter is shimmed correctly or do I just need to remove it and try to realign it and put it back on?
 
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 11:47 AM
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White 97 xlt
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SHIMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is a General Motors thing!!!!!!!!
 
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 07:59 PM
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disconnect battery and pull starter out. check end (starter drive) for damaged teeth.
take flashlight and look at flywheel ( or flexplate on automatic) teeth for damage. usually 2 or more are gone.

Jim
 
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 08:10 PM
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diconnect battery and remove starter. check teeth on starter drive.
look at flywheel for missing half broken teeth. original starter probably ate up flywheel after keyed switch stuck it up against flywheel and new starter was ruined by screwed up flywheel. make sense? you might need new starter and flywheel, and hope your switch was fixed,,so it don't happen again.
 
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 08:13 PM
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mine isn't shimed, but the dumb m***** f***** that put mine on didnt torque it or put thread sealer on it and i had one bolt holding mine on...and i was picking my girl up to go on a date!! i was soooooo pissed, my trucks NEVER EVER going back to that shop, if any, if i can't physically sit there and watch them do it, then i need to do it.
 
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 08:14 PM
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ohh yeah.......... like white 97 said, there are no shims.

Jim
 
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Old Feb 24, 2016 | 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by danger-ranger93
mine isn't shimed, but the dumb m***** f***** that put mine on didnt torque it or put thread sealer on it and i had one bolt holding mine on...
Is this a common occurrence? This morning I went out to start my truck, and I got nothing but fast grinding. I noticed that the tach also jumped to 8-900 RPM while this was all going on. It seems that the starter gear is not coming into full contact with the teeth on the flex plate. It was raining this morning, and I had a 4 year old glued to my side so I couldn't do any troubleshooting. Does anyone know the bolt size in case this could be an issue with a loose/missing starter bolt?
I've never had a problem with starting my truck...no known flat spots on the flex plate...no issues with the battery. It's always done what it's had to do, which is why I'm surprised that this just happened without warning.

BTW, I have a '91 F150 XLT Lariat with a 5.0 and E4OD trans.
 
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Old Feb 24, 2016 | 06:41 PM
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14mm bolt, if i remember correctly.
starter wear is more common than a bolt coming loose, but it's well worth a check.
there is no way you could know about any "flat spots" on the flex plate without having actually removed the starter to check. rotate the engine via the crankshaft pulley bolt to inspect the ring gears entire circumference. teeth don't have to be missing to cause grinding, what looks to some to be fairly minor wear is enough. if the ring gear is good, then it's probably just the bendix drive on the starter, but common practice these days is to just replace the whole starter.
 
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