About 4-5 months ago one of my starter bolts broke so I took it to a local mechanic and they charged me $120 to get the broken end out of the block and put in a new bolt in. I was driving home from a friends house the other day (thanksgiving) and stoped to get some diesel fuel and it wouldn't start. I got underneith and realized that the same bolt broke again. I brought it back to the local mechanic and had them repeat the process and they charged my another $120, I paid it but I am seriously thinking about getting rid of it because I don't want to have to do this every few months. I also have to pay a towing fee ($50). Is there something I can do to stop braking the bolts? This is a 1994 chevy 2500 with 6.5 turbo diesel 2wd.

 

is the bracket on the back of the starter still installed if not it is likely you will have to replace starter bolts, or a cracked block again. the braket is like 15$ from the dealer. Luckily my dealer had it but didnt have it in their stock so i got it just given to me, perks of working in the automotive business.

 

Check your flex plate also.

 

just found out the teeth are gone on fly wheel and has a crack in the block. They want $650 to fix it. I don't know if I should do it but it is cheaper than a new truck.

 

Thanks I never heard of a starter having a bracket but I called the local dealership and they said it does. My new starter bracket will be in on tuesday. Do you think it would be safe to drive untill then? It has been around 20 degrees where I live and I know things get a little more fragile when it's cold.

 

How do they plan on fixing crack in block for 650?

 

The place I brought my truck ripped me off. There was no crack in the block and I really don't think they changed the fly wheel either. The thing they were calling a crack was a die-line in the block casting after I got a closer look. This place was a NAPA certified service station and normally they don't work on diesel's.

 

I would not drive the truck without the starter brace. It only takes on e hit of the key to cause you a major issue.

My son took his truck to a repair shop in Minneapolis to get his starter changed. It was cold out and he did not have a warm place to work on his truck.

They were jacking him around about giving him his truck back. He found out they did not install the brace, and the first hit of the key, broke the block. They were trying to put him off while they tried to find out a fix for their screw up. There is no fix that I have heard that does not involve a new block or engine.

I use a little Craftsman 1/4" battery ratchet and wobble extensions from Harbor Freight when working on starters. The bolt going to the block on the brace will have a 13 mm head most of the time, but I have seen 12 mm and 1/2" also

It is best to use Genuine GM starter bolts. I have seen a noticeable difference in quality between GM starter bolts and the aftermarkets. They aren't that much more money. Especially when compared to an engine block or even having any kind of problem because you saved 3 or 4 dollars.

 

I sheared mine off when I owned a 6.5. Not only that, I managed to strip two of the holes while pulling the broken ends out.

so, I helicoiled the holes to a larger size, found out that I didn't have the bracket on the back end of the starter, put that on, and used grade 8 bolts when I replaced the starter. it didn't shear off again. and wouldn't have.

that said, the best fix for chevy starter bolts, is to buy a 7.3. 3 bolts, nice n short, easy to get at, and no brace on the back. cause, you know, it's not a chevy. :P

 

Hate to butt in on your thread here but I just bought a 92 6.5. I was checking out some things today and noticed the starter has no bracket. One of bolts is a piece of all thread with a nut on it so I know its had issues. I cant get a bracket from my dealer till monday at best.

I really need the truck this weekend. Does anybody see a downside to making a bracket from angle iron?