My girlfriends 90 Bronco II has developed a strange whining/freespinning grind when turning the ignition key. It's sporadic and won't catch, but will usually start and sound fine on the second try. I don't know what a faulty starter sounds like and I don't want to bring it in to get it looked at if it's something I can replace myself. Any ideas?

 

It sound like the gear on the starter is not moving out all the way and is either partially engaging (grinding) or not engaging at all (whinning). I would just through a new one on there since they are cheap and easy to change and you don't want to grind up the teeth on the flywheel.

 

I agree....a new starter is a lot easier to put on than a new flywheel.

 

Yeah, even for a barely capable backyard mechanic such as myself, the starter was incredibly easy to change. Cheap, too!

 

The starter in one of my Bronco-IIs had a tendency to loosen up after a while. I got it used so, I don't know if the previous owner had replaced it and just failed to properly install or tighten its bolts, being hard to get to with common tools.

The first time I tightened them, they loosened up again about 3 months later. The second time, I used about 1/2" longer, higher grade bolts with lockwashers, and they've been holding well for several months now.

Aside from that, the only other thing I can think would cause your problem is that the points or wedges on the flywheel teeth have been ground flat, most likely from attempts to start the engine when it's already running. Some of the newer B-IIs can be so quiet when idling that if someone were to have the radio turned up loud enough, and was maybe distracted enough, they might think it the engine needed to be started when it didn't.

For your sake, I hope it's not the latter, since to fix it would require considerably more time and/or money. I suspect she's got the automatic transmission, so you'd need the flex plate. The part itself cost but a few hours wages from PartsAmerica.com. It's the labor that'll break you, if you're on a tight budget.

 

Every problem has multiples, and yours is no different.

I'd venture to say that the starter mounting bolts have been loose in the past, to the point that, while trying to start the vehicle, the solinoid gear was probably only catching the outer edge of the flywheel.

So you probably have a few edges on several of the flywheel ring gear teeth, that are ground down/worn off. Not a real big problem.

I'd go with a Premium "New", not "Reman", starter. Pay alot of attention to insuring it is bolted in properly.

Like everyone is saying. this is an "easy" job. Dirty, but easy, and one that you will crawl out from under the beast, feeling good about your accomplishment and a job well done.

Better yet, because of the dirt and grime, you'll look like you were really killing yourself under there, and you can play that up to the one who will believe your her "Hero".

 

Some of the newer B-IIs can be so quiet when idling that if someone were to have the radio turned up loud enough, and was maybe distracted enough, they might think it the engine needed to be started when it didn't.

My BII is in no way quiet. I can normally hear the exhaust with mine started, and it's all factory.

 

Everything posted sounds right. However it is probably only one thing or another. A lot of times on starters the bendix gear will go before the starter dies. I believe that you can replace just that on the starter if it is what is bad. Another thing to keep in mind is that the teeth on your flywheel stop at pretty much the same location every time and if you have one or two bad ones, that is where you will get your "first" time spin and your "second" time start. Unless it is the bendix gear and it may not engage the first time every time. New starters are easy to install. If you have the time and patience you can pull it and put some 12v to it and observe the bendix gear, that may be able to pinpoint it a little for you. If it is your flywheel, unless you know what you're doing, don't do it yourself. Trannys are a pain the butt to drop and stab in your driveway.

Good Luck!