Spirit of Lucas

[wemtd]

SWMBO said: My car won't start, what do I do? (my seven, not the daily driver)

I suspect my starter is dying on me: I can hear it spinning but it only intermittently engages the flywheel. I took the starter to my local pepboy's tester today where the boy said it was ok. Came home, bolted back into place, made sure my batter was fully charged: same problem. When I turn the key I can hear it spinning but it doesn't consistently engage the flywheel or start the engine.

 

The last time my starter died it just gave up the ghost, and didn't do anything at all. This time the symptoms are a little different. Does this sound like a dying starter to you folks, or is there another electrical gremlin in my car.

 

Thanks

P.

[Off Road SHO]

Sounds like you have enough juice getting to the starter to spin the starter motor but not enough to kick out the Bendix gear. I would verify that all the battery positive and negative cable connections are clean. Try and rotate both ends of a battery cable before you loosen its bolt. If you can, the bolt was not tight enough.

 

Tom

Edited August 13, 2017 by Off Road SHO

[locost7018]

Also connect a charged battery directly to the starter and see if it does the same. Is it a Xflow? If the battery is weak it will do all kinds of strange things at the starter. Russ

[powderbrake]

Be careful disconnecting the wires, so you don't let the smoke come out.( in the spirit of Lucas)

[coffee break]

I would agree with making sure all the electrical connections are clean and tight. Also see if the Bendix moves freely. It could be gunked up. A shot of WD-40 may help.

[wemtd]

Update:

Make sure you have a lifetime warranty on your starter! After checking all connections etc. the started still wasn't engaging the flywheel.

I'm now back on the road after replacing the starter (2nd time - under warranty by autozone)