Starter was replaced a year ago, But occasionally the starter will miss. The starter will spin but doesn't crank the engine. It sounds like the starter is spinning at full speed, much faster than it would if it was turning the flywheel, accompanied by a grinding sounds like metal on metal.

However It always works the second try. I pump the clutch once and it fires right up. The problem happens very seldom maybe 1 in 50 starts, but still raises concern. I don't see how the starter could be spinning and not catching the flywheel and its doesn't sound like teeth grinding.

Could it be anything else or is the starter just crapping out?

its ac delco btw from o'reileys

 

I would say it's the starter.
When you turn the key it's like flipping on a light switch in your house it let's all the voltage go straight to the starter and engages a solenoid for the gear to turn the flywheel over otherwise it would always be touching the ring gear sooo... If that solenoid is having a bad day or is pissed off as you you car doesn't start

 

There is more than one possibility of why the starter gear is not engaging the flywheel, but they all involve a bad starter. Get yourself another starter and happy motoring.

 

Pull the starter and give the bendix a squirt of oil. I suspect the bendix is binding in the shaft and not sliding forward to ingage the flywheel. Dont buy a starter yet, that would be like swapping you motor rather than changing oil once in a while.

DennisMik, WTH would you just throw parts at it rather than fix a simple problem?

 

yea try another starter and see if it does the samething. Also try sanding down the housing around the starter. Usually its covered in clutch dust

 

Me? No. I wouldn't replace the starter, I would fix the specific part. But not everyone can (or wants to) disassemble a starter and do component replacement.

Since the starter pinion/Bendix gear engages the flywheel created by the centrifugal force generated when the starter armature shaft instantly spins up to speed, there is more than one possibility. The pinion gear binding on the shaft is one, the planetary gear set (specifically the sun gear) binding is another and the starter armature binding in its bushings are your main choices.

The op has a rebuilt starter in the car. One would hope that it would last a long time, but who knows how thoroughly it was rebuilt. Something may be worn that should have been replaced.

If the op can strip things down to nuts and bolts, then I gave bad advice. 50/50 chance.

 

True that. The solenoid is responsible as well for engaging the Bendix. All he would have to is Yank and spray the Bendix good. Might be a free fix and worth the try IMHO.

 

Wow awesome replies. Ill take the starter apart and regrease it and clean it. Went and picked up a junkyard starter today. If it misses again after the re grease ill slap the new starter and solenoid on.

Any suggestions on what grease to use? The how to guide just says lithium soap grease. Any other ideas as to what a more ideal grease would be? Thanks in advance.

 

I used red wheel bearing grease for higher heat resistance, but I think any grease is better than no grease.