Problem with truck

[Evan]

I have a problem with my truck and I don't know what it is. I just changed my clutch and flywheel, and while I was down there I also replaced my starter as it was very old. I am 100% sure I hooked the new starter up correctly.

When I went to start the truck, it started strong and fired up, but there was a loud whine. I don't know where it's coming from. I looked at my volt gauge and it was hovering just above 8v, as if there was a huge load on the electrical system. I smelled something burning and killed the engine. Looked in the compartment and my alternator was hot to the touch after just running a few seconds.

What could be going on??

I double-checked my starter wiring, everything looks good. Tried to start it again and the same thing happened.

 

[mhughes165]

starter isnt disengaging, take it back and get a different one....prolly a reman, sometimes they are crap from the box

 

[Evan]

starter isnt disengaging, take it back and get a different one....prolly a reman, sometimes they are crap from the box

It is a reman. What would cause it to stay engaged?

 

[kunar]

i agree that it sounds like its still engaged, double check your wiring but chances are its just a goofed up reman.

 

[mhughes165]

It is a reman. What would cause it to stay engaged?

a half ass rebuild job..

 

[Evan]

a half ass rebuild job..

Thanks guys. I'll return that starter tonight for a new one and try it out.

 

[Evan]

So I brought the starter back to Autozone and they put it in their machine and tested it. It checked out fine in the machine.

I also could see the contact pattern on the gear and it looked good. The guy said he'd replace it anyway, so I'm getting a new one tomorrow, but since it checked out in their machine I'm not so sure this is the problem...

 

[CheapThrillB2]

you have an auto starter....the bendix is longer then the manuals causing the gear to stay engaged at start up

if you take like 2-3 washers and put them between the starter and the bellhousing it will space it right and will start

 

[CheapThrillB2]

the difference is only like an 1/8th inch, unless you know to look for it you'll never see it

 

[Evan]

Got a starter for a manual today. Put it in and it did the same thing. Finally I figured out the noise was coming from my alternator. Went and had it tested and it was toast. Put a new one in and she runs fine. I have never seen an alternator make a loud whirring/rumble sound when it goes out. The bearing was not bad either, it only made the noise under load. The windings smelt of burnt rubber.

One other question...So I tried out my new clutch. The clutch now engages later (have to let the pedal out more) than before. Is this normal? From my other clutch changes it seems as if the opposite happened.

 

[kaskirov]

One other question...So I tried out my new clutch. The clutch now engages later (have to let the pedal out more) than before. Is this normal? From my other clutch changes it seems as if the opposite happened.

I'm pretty sure the point where the clutch engages determines how much life is left on it. The closer to the floor, the more used it is/less life it has left. thats how i understood it, but i could be wrong.

 

[Shran]

Some clutches are just like that, it seems. My '80 F100 had one that you had to ride the last 1/2 of pedal until you got up to speed or you'd kill it.. The one in my '86 Ranger is the same way. I don't know how long the Ranger has done that but the F100 did it from the factory.