HELP! Loud pinging coming from starter motor
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 100
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From: Pleasanton California
HELP! Loud pinging coming from rear/bottom of engine(starter motor?)
Hi. Last thursday I started up my car, and for an unknown reason it started making this metallic clicking sound. Now whenever it is on it pings a little at idle, and gets pinging really loud once you give it some gas. I have noticed no performance losses while I was driving it through Friday. Since then it has been sitting and it is now on jackstands in my garage.
I have almost definately located that the sounds is coming from the starter motor. I'm not sure if I need more shims? (already have 3). It's funny because I only bought the car in Sept, and have already replaced the starter motor (solenoid went bad before).
It's an 86 coupe.
Hopefully someone may be able to throw some advice.. I am thinking of pulling it off in a couple minutes to look at it (what a huge PITA it is to pull the starter out on these things though).
I have almost definately located that the sounds is coming from the starter motor. I'm not sure if I need more shims? (already have 3). It's funny because I only bought the car in Sept, and have already replaced the starter motor (solenoid went bad before).
It's an 86 coupe.
Hopefully someone may be able to throw some advice.. I am thinking of pulling it off in a couple minutes to look at it (what a huge PITA it is to pull the starter out on these things though).
Last edited by MNorlander; Jun 1, 2006 at 07:31 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 184
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are you sure it's not a flywheel or torque converter bolt. I would turn motor over & watch for a bolt sticking out. As for a starter I would change to a gear reduction starter about 1/3 the size maybe 8lbs.a bunch more powerful.Check Summit around $150 bolt on no modifying easy to get on & off
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton California
I just took the 3 shims off the starter to see if it would get worse and it can still start up, but the pinging comes back(not worse than before, just the same). It will idle really high for a couple seconds, then move down to a lower RPM (~600 or so) and then the pinging will begin.
When you mean turn the engine over do you mean manually? That means I'd have to take out all the spark plugs etc correct..?
I have no idea where the torque convertor is, or where to look from on the flywheel (isn't it behind engine??)
I am beginning to think it is not connected w/ the starter though.
When you mean turn the engine over do you mean manually? That means I'd have to take out all the spark plugs etc correct..?
I have no idea where the torque convertor is, or where to look from on the flywheel (isn't it behind engine??)
I am beginning to think it is not connected w/ the starter though.
Last edited by MNorlander; Jun 1, 2006 at 07:32 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 184
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get someone to turn motor over manually, use a breaker bar on crank center bolt inside balancer, pull inspection cover off flywheel cover at bottom between engine & trans with someone turning motor over look & see if a bolt from flywheel or torque converter is hitting block as motor turns over. If lucky you can just tighten bolt
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton California
this is driving me crazy...
I took the car off jackstands, put it on level ground in my garage. It idles in Park fine, no clicking. I can open up the throttle and it will run great.. no clicking at all.
Then I back down my driveways a little but until I am at the steepest angle I can get, and leave it in w/ reverse w/ the brakes on... starts clicking!!
So I put it in drive (starts clicking as I accelerate) and pull back into the garage... once I come to a stop in my normal parking spot, it stops clicking (in drive still, but no movement).
???
I took the car off jackstands, put it on level ground in my garage. It idles in Park fine, no clicking. I can open up the throttle and it will run great.. no clicking at all.
Then I back down my driveways a little but until I am at the steepest angle I can get, and leave it in w/ reverse w/ the brakes on... starts clicking!!
So I put it in drive (starts clicking as I accelerate) and pull back into the garage... once I come to a stop in my normal parking spot, it stops clicking (in drive still, but no movement).
???
Last edited by MNorlander; Jun 1, 2006 at 08:36 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 295
Likes: 3
From: Newton NJ
You might want to check to see if the torque convertor cover is banging around near the starter. It is the thin metalic cover that is conected to the underneath of the bell housing of the transmission. I know I had to take mine off to change the starter and they get a little out of shape and bang into the flywheel sometimes or just get loose.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
