New Starter Binding

[cpoole]

1988 Grand Wagoneer (223,000 miles)

Wouldn't start - battery good - bypassed ignition by running two 14 gauge wires from starter to a heavy duty toggle switch - it then started fine - replaced ignition switch in column - no luck - replaced starter relay - no luck. I installed a brand new starter from NAPA - still using toggle switch - now the starter binds - it will start eventually. I had the battery / alternator load checked - all good. I don't want to tear up the new starter.

• Should I assume the problem is between the column ignition switch and the starter relay?
• The starter bolts are tight.
• Do I need to try and shim the starter out so that is doesn't bind - or am I missing the real problem.

Thank you!

Craig

[lkmarsh]

Sounds like you do need to shim the new starter. When you replaced the starter switch, were any contacts melted? Was the connector melted anywhere? Same for the neutral safety switch and it's connector. After a quarter million miles it might also need replacing. Got a factory shop manual yet? Chilton and Haynes were no help to me for my wiring nightmares. My 69 has no fuse block (yet) only inlines, and no color-coded diagram. Good hunting and Merry Christmas!

[aerocorey]

Missing the real problem. FSJ starters don't need shim. Every time I've seen someone on here (including me when I needed a new ring gear) start thinking they need to shim a starter on an AMC engine there ends up being a different cause.

Did you throw the old starter back in to see if it also binds? Check your grounds, clean your grounds, replace your grounds. Replace battery cables too. You'll nail it eventually.

[lkmarsh]

Corey is right: bad grounds create a multitude of problems and quite often appear to be something else. New cables and ground straps are a good start. The fact that you could start up after bypassing the ignition switch and the neutral safety or clutch safety switch shows that at that time you had ground. As for shims: GM starters are not supposed to need shims, but sometimes they do. Especially rebuilts. Too many trips through the sandblaster erodes the mount pad. Besides replacing the fuse, check the neutral safety switch or clutch switch and their connectors. Sometimes the NSS gets loose and out of adjustment. You should be so lucky!

[scantar]

If by binds you mean it doesn't seem to have the juice to turn the ring gear, then x2 on what Corey says. Undo the grounds, clean 'em up and tighten them down.