Starter Problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 837
Likes: 2
From: Derry NH
Starter Problem
I am looking for an opinion on what I should do with my starter (on an L98 car). Sometimes when I turn the key the starter simply spins freely, then I have to keep trying until it catches the flywheel and the car starts. What causes this? Is it possible that everything is fine and the starter just needs some adjustments? Or, is there no way of knowing without removing the starter and looking?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The starter solenoid pushes the pinion gear into the flywheel ring gear and at the end of its stroke also forces two large copper contacts together to switch current to the starter motor. You would need to remove the starter to look at the condition of the pinion and ring gear to determine if missing teeth are the problem or if it is something else.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
starter
usually there are three reasons for this:
1. there is old grease in the starter drive, and it has become
thickened and dried out with age, and needs to be relubricated.
2. The starter drive is worn out and needs to be replaced.
3. the starter brushes and commutator are worn, and the starter does
not spin up initially fast enough to throw the starter drive out to
the flywheel. a slow initial spin coupled with the other two items
means take the starter apart, clean it, undercut the micarta, put in
new brushes, change the bearings, lube it, and reinstall.
A. If it just clicks, usually it's a solenoid problem. change it, and it
should work till the rest of the starter gives out.
a self overhaul should be like $35, replacements can be upwards of $150 for a quality rebuild.
1. there is old grease in the starter drive, and it has become
thickened and dried out with age, and needs to be relubricated.
2. The starter drive is worn out and needs to be replaced.
3. the starter brushes and commutator are worn, and the starter does
not spin up initially fast enough to throw the starter drive out to
the flywheel. a slow initial spin coupled with the other two items
means take the starter apart, clean it, undercut the micarta, put in
new brushes, change the bearings, lube it, and reinstall.
A. If it just clicks, usually it's a solenoid problem. change it, and it
should work till the rest of the starter gives out.
a self overhaul should be like $35, replacements can be upwards of $150 for a quality rebuild.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: green valley az
I am looking for an opinion on what I should do with my starter (on an L98 car). Sometimes when I turn the key the starter simply spins freely, then I have to keep trying until it catches the flywheel and the car starts. What causes this? Is it possible that everything is fine and the starter just needs some adjustments? Or, is there no way of knowing without removing the starter and looking?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 32
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by coupeguy2001
3. the starter brushes and commutator are worn, and the starter does
not spin up initially fast enough to throw the starter drive out to
the flywheel.
not spin up initially fast enough to throw the starter drive out to
the flywheel.
Originally Posted by robertt43
The motor spins and catches the Bendix which rotates on a worm type gear towards the ring gear and turns over the engine.
It is possible the drive is hitting on the side of the ring gear, not allowing engagement, but unless the starter has been moved lately, that is not likely. Chances are cleaning the contacts inside the solenoid will fix the problem. The efforts can range from cleaning the contacts, buying a solenoid rebuild kit, buying a solenoid, on through to buying a complete, new or rebuilt starter. The above applies to the large Delco starter, since a year isn't mentioned. Probably the OE mini starters, too.
RACE ON!!!
