Help- destroyed 3 starters in the last month it looks like the starter is getting hung up in the flywheel and not retracting, desroying the Bendix. Not sure what the fix is. I'm thinking replace flywheel. Does the tooth count matter? Are there any other ideas on why it would do this? It's a 3152 starter that was sold to me by advance auto. Any help is appreciated

 

If you've destroyed that many that all have the same problem, I'd say you are likely missing some shims that go between the starter and mounting.

 

[QUOTE=burnthelight88;17243187]If you've destroyed that many that all have the same problem, I'd say you are likely missing some shims that go between the starter and mounting.[

im not much of a mechanic, do air parts stores typically carry shims and how many do you install?

 

Make sure your cab is grounded. My starter kept hanging up when I got the truck, and after I replaced the missing bellhousing-to-firewall ground, it never did it again.

The flywheel's starter-ring-gear tooth count, the bellhousing, and the starter, must all be matching parts. Starters are different between automatic and manual.

What engine and transmission do you have?

 

Upon further review, I'm going with mean green and saying you have the wrong starter. It's a must to match one with the transmission.

Shims can help in some vehicles, but most guys will tell you fords don't require them and I don't have any on mine. Groggy, just woke-up thinking with my earlier post, sorry.

 

Welcome to FTE, make sure you join you state chapter.

Kentucky chapter link. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum151/

I doubt you had such bad luck to get 3 bad starters. X2 on ck your wiring to be correct. And make sure you have the correct starter for what ever transmission and motor you have. Manual versus auto trans... it matters.

Also make sure you are getting the CORRECT parts # starter. The parts counter guy could be fat fingering it...I'd get their part# and then call a different parts place and see what # they cal for.

Also before you install a new one, have a friend turn over turn the motor by hand, while you lay under it and insp the complete fly wheel.

 

Check all the teeth in the flywheel, and count them while you're at it. Maybe a previous owner changed it from factory. I think auto and standard transmissions use different flywheels, with different tooth count.

If you've been getting a starter for an automatic, maybe you need one for a standard.

Or...I once had a starter solenoid that kept the starter energized after starting. That's no good for them!

And Ford starters don't use shims. They generally have two bolts, one forward facing, and one reverse facing. Make sure the starter is correctly installed, seated in the recess and bolts are tight

Double check your ground cable while you're at it