Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Starter fell out!

[DMather]

Jump in, turned the key, engine started to turn over and heard the most god awful sound for a second followed by whirrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Still in denial that it didn't start, I released the key and turned it again. Whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

What the ......?????

Popped the hood and looked down into the bowels where the starter resides....to find it missing!! Just a big hole.

Wait a minute....what is going whirrrrrrrr? Battery cable is being pulled so I look UNDER the truck to find the starter hanging from the cable, and just touching the bell housing so that it has a circuit.

Pulled the starter off the cable and discovered a damaged ear. I was able to find two bolts (one bent) under the truck along with the remains of the spacer.
One new starter, spacer (solid aluminum this time) and 3 bolts....and a 3 hour delay....later and it was all back together.

Has anyone else had anything like this happen? I am finding it rather weird.

 

[MLee]

Looks like its been loose for a long time, and doing some rocking when starting the engine.

 

[DMather]

You think that bent bolt is saying something??

Up until this event...there was no hint of anything askew. Oil change was only 1500 miles ago and I look everything over while I'm under there. So either it hadn't started, wasn't obvious or my head wasn't in the game at that time. (an out of mind experience?)

 

[GCroyle]

Maybe put a barring tool in the other side, turn the engine over slowly and inspect all of the ring gear teeth looking for ugly stuff.

 

[DMather]

Did and done... nothing found.

Well, technically I found a flywheel and ring gear all intact and happy. :-laf

Other than the destroyed spacer and the broken ear on the starter, which I have cleaned up and repaired to use as a spare, there was no other damage found.

 

[JR]

These starters have a tremendous amount of torque so it is very plausible the bolts came loose over time and allowed the starter to put a bind on the bolts and mounting flange until something gave way.

 

[SAndreasen]

Had one fall out on me once

 

[MMeier]

Never heard of that one before! Something else to look over once in a while I guess.

 

[BTMaltby]

Just this last month my truck would not start. Had towed to my mechanic and he said that the starter was about to fall out. Replaced starter and all is well.

 

[JR]

What was wrong with it that needed replacing?

Personally I will never replace my starter unless I have a catastrophic failure. The reman department is a sad sight these days. I had mine out not a month ago because the cover on the solenoid was rotting out (16 year old starter in the rust belt) so I bought a complete rebuild kit from Larry B's. Dismantled starter, sandblasted all exterior steel components, repaired thin solenoid cover with Belzonia (an industrial grade 2 part metal filler), painted with 2 Coats of Chassis saver, and installed new brushes/brush plate, contacts, and solenoid and reinstalled. Gears showed no wear. Lightly greased bearings. Essentially a brand new starter for 60 bucks and I know it was done right

 

[BlackBullit]

I've seen way to many starters with bolts missing or backed out a bit. Starting to think lock time should be used more often.