Number of teeth in starter gear that engages in the flywheel or torque converter

bighank1

Pulled 3 starters at the junkyard to replace one that has a bad solenoid.
Have a 2002 Buick Regal LS with 3800 series II engine.
Found some on 3100 engines and one from a 3800.
My starter has about 10 teeth on the gear that engages the flywheel. Some of the ones I pulled had smaller gears with only about 8 teeth.

Why the difference?

Also one GM Delco starter was slightly longer (about 1/2 inch) than mine and had a small black hollow tube about 1 inch long at the rear of the starter and at the bottom. It fell off when I touched it. Looks like it might be a drain hole in case some water gets in to the starter. What is this really for?

imidazol97

bighank1 said:

Pulled 3 starters at the junkyard to replace one that has a bad solenoid.
Have a 2002 Buick Regal LS with 3800 series II engine.

These are the cars that use the same starter:
I assume they all are w/ 3800 engine. Hope this helps.

BUICK ALLURE (2006 - 2009)
BUICK LACROSSE (2005 - 2009)
BUICK LESABRE (1998 - 2005)
BUICK LUCERNE (2006 - 2008)
BUICK PARK AVENUE (1998 - 2005)
BUICK REGAL (1998 - 2004)
CHEVROLET CAMARO (1998 - 2002)
CHEVROLET IMPALA (2000 - 2005)
CHEVROLET LUMINA (1998 - 1999)
CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (1998 - 2005)
OLDSMOBILE 88 (1998 - 1999)
OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE (1998 - 1999)
OLDSMOBILE LSS (1998 - 1999)
OLDSMOBILE REGENCY 1998
PONTIAC BONNEVILLE (1998 - 2005)
PONTIAC FIREBIRD (1998 - 2002)
PONTIAC GRAND PRIX (1997 - 2008)