weird starter noise.
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weird starter noise.
I have a 01 f250 7.3. Every once and a while when I go to start my truck it make a strange noise, very similar to the sound a vehicle makes when you try and start it while it's running. if I let off the key and try again it will start. Sometime it will do it 2-3 times. So far I have never had it not start after a few tries. Can't seem to put a reason behind when and why it does it. Sometimes it will go weeks without happening, sometimes it will happen twice in a day. Starter is year old but put a cheap one in it. any ideas is it my starter or something else.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2011
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The starter needs replaced or repaired,sounds like the starter drive is not engaging in to ring gear teeth,this will sooner or later damage your ring gear,which will be a much bigger project.Also test your batteries while fixing the starter,weak batteries can be tough on starters.
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Check if the starter is bolted all the way on, I know the 2 bolt style starters' bolts would start backing out and the teeth would be misaligned causing the grinding sound. If thats the problem the just tighten down the bolts and adding loctite would help them stay
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Thanks I will check the starter today and see what it looks like. I know I do go through starters pretty quick with this truck. I'm rough on them in the winter, pretty sure I have a few glow plugs that don't work and I crank her quite a bit to get it going in the cold.
Posting Guru
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From: Hat Creek Ca
I would also take a look at the ring gear, it may already be damaged. The intermittent part of your problem may be that the bad part of the ring gear only stops in the right place once in a while.
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Good read....mine did this to me once a few weeks ago. Hasn't happened since, but I'll be taking a look at the starter bolts first.
This reminds me....my tranny was dropped a few weeks ago to replace the pump seal. Does the starter have to come out for that work? If so I guess it's possible they didn't get them tight or they have worked loose.
This reminds me....my tranny was dropped a few weeks ago to replace the pump seal. Does the starter have to come out for that work? If so I guess it's possible they didn't get them tight or they have worked loose.
is a BAAAD MAN
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From: Winston Salem NC
This is what happened to me...
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Bolts seemed pretty tigh. I was able to tighten them about a quarter of a turn. Not sure that would be enough to cause a problem or not. I didn't have time to pull the starter and the cover that allows you to view the teeth on the fly wheel, or flexplate I guess it's called. Will do that when I have so time. Hoping it's not my flexplate cause I've read that is kind of a labor intensive job and above my mechanical abilities.
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Not familiar with the ring gear
Posting Guru
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From: Hat Creek Ca
The ring gear is on the outside edge of the flywheel and is what the starter engages into to turn the engine. If it has buggerd teeth in one or more spots and lands at the point where the starter is mounted when the engine shuts down it will make the grinding noise you describe when you try to start. Not saying that this is your problem but worth inspecting the full rotation of the fly wheel to eliminate that issue.
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Gotcha. Thanks. I kind of have a feeling that, that maybe my problem. I will check that as soon as I get the time. This can be inspected by remove the cover plate and manually turning the flywheel correct? Do I need to remove the starter in order to turn the flywheel?
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Haha I believe you. I had a minute today and climbed under with my socket set. Rounded the last one over. So I never got the cover off. Going to have to climb back under another day and deal with that.
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