bad starter?

TxDAEWOOxT · Post by **TxDAEWOOxT** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:03 am

my car took a dump getting on the highway.when i pulled over i tryed to crank it over and i could just hear the starter spin and not engage on the flywheel my mech. is saying that i have a bad starter. i geuss my question is what would make the starter break going 60 mph on the highway? and if i heard the starter actually turning and not engaging on the flywheel does that mean that it is bad?your post will really be helpfull right now.thanx

BosnianLanos · Post by **BosnianLanos** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:17 am

It doesn't sound like typical starter trouble, because I had my starter go earlier this year. Starters usually don't make your car die while its running. Also, if it is a bad starter, you shouldn't hear it spinning at all. And finally, bad starters usually give signs of failure for a few days before it actually happens, like slow start-ups and really loud spinning.

It kinda sounds like it may be timing belt involved, but I could be wrong.

TxDAEWOOxT · Post by **TxDAEWOOxT** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:38 am

i had my belt brake at 63000 and i remember it still cranking.it did not crank this time.the starter does not engage on the flywheel.does anyone know what that sounds like?

kroz123 · Post by **kroz123** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:50 am

I think it's your fuel pump cutting out,
It happened to me too that same way when I was trying to start it it wouldn't start.

hope this hepls but I think your pump is bad.

TxDAEWOOxT · Post by **TxDAEWOOxT** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:51 am

no! the starter DOES NOT ENGAGE ON THE FLYWHEEL!!!!I just replaced the pump on my car also about 5000 back.if it was the fuel pump you would not be getting fuel.i am not getting the motor to crank(THE STARTER DOES NOT ENGAGE ON THE FLYWHEEL)or there is something wrong with the flywheel. is there anyone that can help me please P.S. i dont need ideas i need answers.thanx for your post.

GsiTurbo · Post by **GsiTurbo** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 4:22 am

Obvioulsly either the selenoid (part that engages with the flywheel) or wiring to it is damaged.

An old trick:

- find long wooden stick
- have someone crank the motor
- have 2nd person tap with the NON CONDUCTIVE rod on the selenoid - if it kicks in, you have faulty selenoid or oil/dirt contaminated selenoid. They can be put apart and cleaned up, but its always a good idea to remove the starter for that.
- if it doesnt engage, DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, get underneath the car and remove all the wires attached to the starter/selenoid. Ensure they are not damaged. Clean all connectors and reassemble. Re-test.

Tom

MMamdouh · Post by **MMamdouh** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:28 am

360 Dynamics wrote:Obvioulsly either the selenoid (part that engages with the flywheel) or wiring to it is damaged.

An old trick:

- find long wooden stick
- have someone crank the motor
- have 2nd person tap with the NON CONDUCTIVE rod on the selenoid - if it kicks in, you have faulty selenoid or oil/dirt contaminated selenoid. They can be put apart and cleaned up, but its always a good idea to remove the starter for that.
- if it doesnt engage, DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, get underneath the car and remove all the wires attached to the starter/selenoid. Ensure they are not damaged. Clean all connectors and reassemble. Re-test.

Tom

+1

MMamdouh

daewooluvr · Post by **daewooluvr** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:40 pm

You cannot reach the starrter from underneath the car. You kinda have to snake your arms around the intake manifold to reach it. It's a real PITA.

MMamdouh · Post by **MMamdouh** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:02 pm

+2

MMamdouh

TxDAEWOOxT · Post by **TxDAEWOOxT** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:18 am

that would not make the car die while pulling on the highway if it were only dirty.could it be posible that the flywheel is screwed up or broken? i dont have the car it is at my mech. i could suggest checking out the solinoid to them because i can hear the starter.i geuss whenever you turn the key to the 3rd position is when you engage the starter solinoid.what is the probability that something happend to the motor and the starter at the same time? sorry for the endless questions i know you guys dont have my car in front of you to tell me a proper diagnosis but nothing sounds like my problem. if i blew my main seal and leaked out all the oil and locked up the motor would that make the starter solinoid not engage?would the ecu tell it not to engage to protect its self? thanx again for your help

BosnianLanos · Post by **BosnianLanos** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:28 am

Only thing I can think of is that maybe your starter gear is somehow stripped and maybe one of the broken teeth has managed to seize up the flywheel. However, that wouldn't cause a "dump" on the freeway, but rather cataclysmic damage to the engine and flywheel that you would hear. I doubt it is the solenoid, because you say you hear it spinning. At any rate, I really doubt your starter would cause your car to fail at highway speeds.

Just check to make sure that your alternator belt is still attached or get the alternator tested to make sure it can charge the system and give enough voltage for your spark plugs to fire. It sound kinda like what happend when my alternator decided to commit suicide while still driving. The starter would spin, but the car wasn't going anywhere.

TxDAEWOOxT · Post by **TxDAEWOOxT** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:39 am

for the plugs to fire i would still need to get the engine to turn over. if i understood you right your starter would turn but not have enough juice to engage the solenoid?when you say the starter would spin, it would spin freely or spin whle it was engaged on the flywheel?

BosnianLanos · Post by **BosnianLanos** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 5:37 pm

The problems I have had, compare them with yours:

Bad Alternator: Cars lights and stereo were weakening and dimming, until one time leaving from a light, off goes the car without a trace. Cranking did nothing. No spark from plugs. Complete death.

Bad Starter: Turn the key and all I hear is a click, and nothing else. Wouldn't budge, could hear no spinning.

Bad Battery: Starter would spin, lights and stereo would come on, but the voltage drain was too high to actually get anything to go. <-- Sounds most like your problems.

Have you tried a jumpstart? At least that would rule out a bad battery and bad alternator and leave you with only the last option.

TxDAEWOOxT · Post by **TxDAEWOOxT** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 3:42 am

i dont think anyone would have had the same problem as me.i know it sounds kinda stupid but the closest thing has been the bad battery. i left my hazards on and my battery died while it sat on the feeder road until i had a tow truck come and pick it up. they charged the battery to check the car out and the battery checked out ok.

TxDAEWOOxT · Post by **TxDAEWOOxT** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 1:52 am

BosnianLanos wrote:Only thing I can think of is that maybe your starter gear is somehow stripped and maybe one of the broken teeth has managed to seize up the flywheel. However, that wouldn't cause a "dump" on the freeway, but rather cataclysmic damage to the engine and flywheel that you would hear. I doubt it is the solenoid, because you say you hear it spinning. At any rate, I really doubt your starter would cause your car to fail at highway speeds.

Just check to make sure that your alternator belt is still attached or get the alternator tested to make sure it can charge the system and give enough voltage for your spark plugs to fire. It sound kinda like what happend when my alternator decided to commit suicide while still driving. The starter would spin, but the car wasn't going anywhere.