Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
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HOMESERVICE MANUALSBUICK1999LESABRE V6-3.8L VIN KREPAIR AND DIAGNOSISSTARTING AND CHARGINGSTARTING SYSTEMSERVICE AND REPAIR
1999 Buick LeSabre V6-3.8L VIN K
Starting System: Service and Repair
1999 Buick LeSabre V6-3.8L VIN KSECTION Service and Repair
Starter Pinion Clearance Check
CAUTION: Keep fingers, tools, and any other objects away from the opening in the drive end housing while making electrical connections. The strong shifting action of the starter solenoid can cause severe personal injury or damage to components as the drive pinion moves into the cranking position.
1. Put the starter motor in a vise.
2. Insulate the starter solenoid field lead from the solenoid.
3. Connect a 12-volt positive battery lead to the starter solenoid S terminal.
4. Connect the negative battery lead to a clean ground on the starter motor housing.
5. Momentarily ground the solenoid S terminal to the housing. This energizes the solenoid pull-in coil and causes the drive pinion to move into cranking position. The drive pinion will stay in this position when the momentary ground is removed.
6. Press on the drive enough to take up any free movement of the drive on the shaft.
7. Inspect the clearance between the drive and the drive stop collar using feeler gages. The drive-to-drive stop collar clearance should be 0.25-4.06 mm (0.01-0.16 in).
8. Disconnect the negative battery lead from the housing.
9. Disconnect the positive battery lead from the S terminal.
10. If the clearance is outside of the specifications inspect the starter motor for worn or damaged parts in the shift lever and the drive. Repair or replace the parts as needed.
CAUTION: Keep fingers, tools, and any other objects away from the opening in the drive end housing while making electrical connections. The strong shifting action of the starter solenoid can cause severe personal injury or damage to components as the drive pinion moves into the cranking position.
1. Put the starter motor in a vise.
2. Insulate the starter solenoid field lead from the solenoid.
3. Connect a 12-volt positive battery lead to the starter solenoid S terminal.
4. Connect the negative battery lead to a clean ground on the starter motor housing.
5. Momentarily ground the solenoid S terminal to the housing. This energizes the solenoid pull-in coil and causes the drive pinion to move into cranking position. The drive pinion will stay in this position when the momentary ground is removed.
6. Press on the drive enough to take up any free movement of the drive on the shaft.
7. Inspect the clearance between the drive and the drive stop collar using feeler gages. The drive-to-drive stop collar clearance should be 0.25-4.06 mm (0.01-0.16 in).
8. Disconnect the negative battery lead from the housing.
9. Disconnect the positive battery lead from the S terminal.
10. If the clearance is outside of the specifications inspect the starter motor for worn or damaged parts in the shift lever and the drive. Repair or replace the parts as needed.
RENDER: 1.0x
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.