How does this sort of thing happen????

[Blue Ox]

I would start by going to a different repair shop. You would be surprised what goes on at those places. I have worked at repair shops, and the owners / managers are replaced if they don't bring in enough profits. Employees are just as easily replaced. The number 1 priority is to make money - PERIOD.

They did a huge investigation on auto repair shops by putting hidden cameras in and under the car. It was on TV years ago.

Brake fluid flush - Turkey baster in the baster cylinder and a few drop of fluid on the bleeders (not flushing the lines at all).
Dabbing used oil around engine and transmission seals.
Installing used parts.
Damaging other parts so that they will fail sooner.
Saying a repair is needed, and then billing it without actually repairing anything.
Loosen up bolts so that noises and leaks will start.
Cutting CV boots.
Putting metal shavings in the rear axle fluid.
Putting water in the oil to simulate a bad head gasket.

And so on.

Not all shops are scams of course, but you would be amazed at how many are.

So if you go to a shop, and something odd happens afterwards - might as well try another shop.

I'm not in the auto repair field, but I was in the mechanical repair field, and I've seen it from both sides.

I'm curious tho, what profession you're in and if there are any bad actors? Or are you living in Theory where everything is perfect?

Are there rip-offs in auto repair? Sure. But there's rip-offs in food service, home repair, law firms, government services, etc. Name a field and you can find bad actors. So using a sensationalist media piece to slander an entire industry isn't realistic to say the least.

To the OP, if you're getting a replacement starter, consider a newer style, gear reduction starter. It still needs a front brace, but I've had significantly less issues with them.

 

[Edelbrock]

consider a newer style, gear reduction starter. It still needs a front brace, but I've had significantly less issues with them.

I completely agree, the mini high torque gear reduction starters are awesome. That's what I run.

 

[peats]

Have you checked to see if the outer bolt tab has not broken from the block? It appears to be a problem for SBC, BBC, and 6.2 diesel.

 

[1ton_s-blazer]

With the intake having been off, I'd wonder if it got hydrolocked. Maybe a puddle got left in the intake or intermittent gaskets?

 

[YakkoWarner]

With the intake having been off, I'd wonder if it got hydrolocked. Maybe a puddle got left in the intake or intermittent gaskets?

Don't think that is the case because I had it back from the intake job for almost a month before this problem came up - and no evidence of loss on any fluids in that month of time. I didn't see any evidence that the starter mounting holes were broken away from the block, but there most certainly was not the block to starter bracket shown previously. It is up at the shop now because the flex plate is assuredly toast, so thats going to have to be replaced and probably the starter again even though it was only 6 days old. I did bring up the question/subject of the front block-to-starter bracket and asked them to put that back on if it is infact supposed to be present (and on a big block I expect it is supposed to be).

 

[bucket]

While I agree there are shops that may do questionable work. However it is not the norm, at least here. Have been in both the towing industry and repair for 30+ years. I know almost every shop owner in this area. After folks get a vehicle repaired they pay much more attention to details than before. Most times there was an existing issue that they are now paying attention to or alternately trying to get something fixed for nothing. I have worked on cars that almost self destruct if anything is touched. Can't count the thousands of times I have heard "it never did that before" or "ever since". rant over

Back to the op.

In order to have a quiet starter both the ring gear and starter will have to be replaced at the same time.

It is rare today to need shims. I suspect there was an existing part that was failing, loose or wrong. Timing is likely just circumstantial.

I have been in the car business for 40 years. I have been technician, shop foreman, dispatcher, manager and owned my owned shop. I know hundreds of auto technicians. Are there some less than honest ones, of course.

What people don't realize is the customers are more dishonest than anyone. They lie and blame shops all the time. There are way more dishonest customers than technicians or shops. In my current role I see people trying to make fake receipts to scam the manufacturer out of an engine that they neglected to maintain.

"Ever since you changed my oil I have this check engine light on. I expect you to fix it for free". When you show them the measuring block that shows how long the MIL has been illuminated they get nice. You caught them in a lie.

My glass guy buddy puts it in the simplest way. "People spend their entire car ownership looking through their windshield. Until it gets replaced, then they look AT their windshield."

As to the starter issue, I agree 100%. Use a '95+ truck starter as well as the appropriate bolts. However, I don't recall them ever using the support brace.

 

[hack_man]

They did a huge investigation on auto repair shops by putting hidden cameras in and under the car. It was on TV years ago.

Brake fluid flush - Turkey baster in the baster cylinder and a few drop of fluid on the bleeders (not flushing the lines at all).

Yup I caught a Honda dealer red handed doing EXACLY this. I put whiteout on the rubber bleeder caps to make sure they removed them. Nope, they never touched them but were happy to take my $120 for the turkey baster M/C refill.

I never heard of the metal shaving in the diff, that's just plain nasty.

 

[bucket]

Also, never go to a brake repair shop that stands behind their work. You want a shop that stands in front of their work. Lol.

 

[legopnuematic]

That reminds me of the guy who was drinking brake fluid. He said he could stop anytime he wanted.


I’ll see myself out, please refrain from throwing tomatoes until the end of the show.

 

[idahovette]

Now THAT'S a groaner, Spencer @legopnuematic

 

[ASPEC]

I had it back from the intake job for almost a month before this problem came up -

This... it took how many posts and responses before this detail came out?? This is why shops get defensive when the "ever since" customers show up... plus all the posters here trying to help are lead astray with non related or non disclosed details.

let us know if you find cracks under the crank bolts on the flexplate or if it was just the pos aftermarket starter that was in there...