STARTER WILL NOT Disengage
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 823
Likes: 3
From: Pensacola FL ROLL TIDE !!
St. Jude Donor '15
STARTER WILL NOT Disengage
When I connect the battery, the starter cranks on its own & I think it stays engaged after starting, making a hell of a grinding sound. The car has been starting hard lately (clicking sound). I thought my battery was down or maybe the a/c compressor froze up. I pulled the serpentine off & the compressor turns freely. While I had the serpentine off, I connected the battery & the starter engaged & would not stop until the battery was again disconnected (the keys were sitting on the bench). Yesterday, before this problem appeared, I went for a short ride. After about a mile I started hearing a hell of a grinding sound, like the a/c compressor was about to lock up. I limped home & each time it started after that, the grinding noise starts. I did not realize the starter was engaging on it’s own until I took the serpentine off & connected the battery. ?????????????
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 0
From: CALGARY ab
Originally Posted by secrt0007agt
When I connect the battery, the starter cranks on its own & I think it stays engaged after starting, making a hell of a grinding sound. The car has been starting hard lately (clicking sound). I thought my battery was down or maybe the a/c compressor froze up. I pulled the serpentine off & the compressor turns freely. While I had the serpentine off, I connected the battery & the starter engaged & would not stop until the battery was again disconnected (the keys were sitting on the bench). Yesterday, before this problem appeared, I went for a short ride. After about a mile I started hearing a hell of a grinding sound, like the a/c compressor was about to lock up. I limped home & each time it started after that, the grinding noise starts. I did not realize the starter was engaging on it’s own until I took the serpentine off & connected the battery. ?????????????
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,025
Likes: 2
I have seen where the starter was engaged and driven for some time(the driver was very hard of hearing), and there were no more teeth left on the starter. It did quite a bit of damage to the flywheel also.
You should probably check out your flywheel as well.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,230
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From: VA
Cruise-In II Veteran
Had the same issue on my 91 and 96. Install a starter heatshield blanket when you replace the starter. Went thru two starters on my 91 because the cats were getting clogged therefore frying my starters. Same problem on my 96. The starter on both years sits with cm of the exhaust.
