timothypaul

Hi Folks - My starter is engaging momentarily and then seems to be spinning freely. Does this sound like a solenoid issue?


THanks....Tim

MDchanic

Sounds like a bad tooth on the flexplate, though a bad starter gear or solenoid is not out of the question.

You'll need to pull it and have a look.

- Eric

rcrac3r

Solenoid would be first guess. Broken/missing teeth would usually result in that loud screeching "starter mongoose" sound. But it sounds like yours just isn't staying engaged. I would say drop the starter & test it/have it tested.

pogo69

do you have headers?...they can cause starter solenoid problems after a while

joe_padavano

If it were the solenoid, the starter wouldn't spin at all. This sounds like a classic bad starter drive.

oldcutlass

x2 on the starter drive. I believe there is a clip that holds the gear up front on the shaft.

stevengerard

I have the same issue and I was thinking starter drive as well, though occasionally I get nothing and then next turn of the key it fores up - think you will have to take it off to check anyway.

stellar

X3 on the starter drive

citcapp

Have had the same issue and solved it in the past and it was the solenoid. the round copper plate and the stud that hits it both had arc weld bumps and where not making good contact causing the solenoid to not pull in and hold. Filed down the post and flipped the round plate and all was good. Learned this when we used to rebuild things instead of just buying new because money was always the issue when I was young.

MDchanic

What's this "used to" nonsense?

Last week I bought (well, leant the money to buy...) a 2000 Cherokee for my boy who's getting his license.
The signals and flashers didn't work right, so I spent a fewl hours yesterday disassembling and reassembling ("several" times ) the signal light / highbeam switch, which was full of green corrosion inside.
Signals work now. Saved him $50

Next I will show him how to solder every wire that goes to the hatch (entire harness over-flexed at the pivot point), and how to bend new brake lines, while explaining to him how much it would cost to pay someone else to do these things (and do them wrong).

- Eric

citcapp

[QUOTE=MDchanic;558718]What's this "used to" nonsense?

I still do all my own stuff except engine machine work. Hone brake and master cylinders and use rebuild kits etc as well as several other tasks. Save the money for the "go fast" stuff

oldcutlass

Not use to, I also still do. The only bad thing about rebuilding original equipment is sometimes trying to find quality pieces parts to use.

timothypaul

Yes - This puppy has Doug's headers on it and the heat has always been an issue. Love seeing melted wires. So it may be the wiring on the starter. If its the drive gear, that won't be to bad. I have a few starters lying around.

Thanks - TP

oldcutlass

Pretty simple to piece together from other starters.

timothypaul

Hmm. So I dropped the started last weekend and took it to be tested. Everything passed fine. Re-installed making sure the wiring was tight.

Same thing

stellar

You should have changed the drive while it was off

Sampson

X 10 on the drive. Seen this happen lots of times.

pogo69

I have had similar problems..in my cases it turned out to be electrical/solenoid related from the heat

timothypaul

Hmm - what do you mean by "changing the drive"

oldcutlass

See post #6 for a picture.

MDchanic

This:



- Eric

timothypaul

Does that front cone come off, or does this happen from the inside? And where would I get the gear, is that avialable separate?

This maybe a bit beyond me. - And it would be something I would have to plan because I couldn't leave the car not running.

MDchanic

Instructions for disassembling the starter are in the Chassis Service Manual.

You unscrew the two long screws and the screw to the solenoid, pull off the nose, separate the thrust collar and the retainer, revealing the snap ring, gently pry the snap ring open enough to slide off the shaft, then slide the drive off.

Installation is the reverse. Once you've got the snap ring in the groove, you snap the thrust collar and the retainer together over it using two pairs of pliers.

It can be done in under five minutes, not including "quality time" on your back removing and installing the starter.

- Eric

oldcutlass

Yes the front cone comes off. Here watch these 2 videos, I know it's a van but a starter is a starter.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...=0&FORM=NVPFVR

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...=0&FORM=NVPFVR

MDchanic

They're the same video.

I would just add that you don't need to pull the armature out of the starter in order to change the drive.

- Eric

oldcutlass

Fix'd it.

timothypaul

Well - I opted to purchase a rebuilt starter from a local shop. While I will say it is a piece of junk, at least it will keep the car operable while I take apart the original starter.

With the military discount it came out to less then $ 50.00.

Now I can properly fix the old starter without pressure.

TP

stellar

Why is the rebuilt starter from the local shop a piece of junk?

oldcutlass

And $50 is not a bad price, and why not let them rebuild your old one?