Starter engagement issue...again
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 246
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From: For School: Big Rapids,MI
Starter engagement issue...again
So my starter isnt engaging propely. Thought i had it fixed. So i took it for a drive. Drove through a huge puddle. Stalled my truck. And now the starter wont engage enough to turn it over except for certain times.
First off, i did not hydrolock the engine. The engine turns over freely. I stalled my truck when i went through the puddle...dumb me
At times the starter sounds perfect, other times it sounds like it is grinding into the face of the flywheel i assume.
My question is, can too low of cca or "too small" of a battery cause this issue? I used to have a big battery, not sure cca, before i rebuilt my engine. It took over a year so naturally the battery died and i got a new stock one which was much smaller and lower CCA. It worked fine for awhile with the OE starter. Could it slowly be dying and this is what is causing my issue? I do come out every once and awhile and the battery will be dead.
First off, i did not hydrolock the engine. The engine turns over freely. I stalled my truck when i went through the puddle...dumb me
At times the starter sounds perfect, other times it sounds like it is grinding into the face of the flywheel i assume.
My question is, can too low of cca or "too small" of a battery cause this issue? I used to have a big battery, not sure cca, before i rebuilt my engine. It took over a year so naturally the battery died and i got a new stock one which was much smaller and lower CCA. It worked fine for awhile with the OE starter. Could it slowly be dying and this is what is causing my issue? I do come out every once and awhile and the battery will be dead.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
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The low CCA battery might cause that, but I'm not totally sure. Old corroded battery cables will for sure cause that however, as will a corroded power cable leading to the starter.
Make sure all of your grounding points have clean connections. And if you're going to be fording large puddles, look in to some sort of water-proof grease for electrical connections.
If your current starter was a cheap McParts store rebuild, the water might've messed it up somehow - maybe washing the cheap grease from the cheap bushings or something like that. Maybe it caused the Bendix to hang up, not extending the gear far enough?
If your truck has an automatic transmission, I would suspect a bent or cracked flexplate/flywheel.
Make sure all of your grounding points have clean connections. And if you're going to be fording large puddles, look in to some sort of water-proof grease for electrical connections.
If your current starter was a cheap McParts store rebuild, the water might've messed it up somehow - maybe washing the cheap grease from the cheap bushings or something like that. Maybe it caused the Bendix to hang up, not extending the gear far enough?
If your truck has an automatic transmission, I would suspect a bent or cracked flexplate/flywheel.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: For School: Big Rapids,MI
I dont go through large puddles often i just had my inner child come out and now im regreting it.
I tried a larger CCA battery with zero luck. My negative battery terminal was corroded so i replaced that...no luck.
This is a manual truck and i know the flywheel isnt bent as clutch engagement is very smooth.
I measured how far the starter gear should putrude into the bellhousing and it seems it should contact 90% of the ring gear. Because of this i think the starter gear is not fully engaging yet i have no idea why. Bench testing, it works great.
I tried a larger CCA battery with zero luck. My negative battery terminal was corroded so i replaced that...no luck.
This is a manual truck and i know the flywheel isnt bent as clutch engagement is very smooth.
I measured how far the starter gear should putrude into the bellhousing and it seems it should contact 90% of the ring gear. Because of this i think the starter gear is not fully engaging yet i have no idea why. Bench testing, it works great.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 246
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From: For School: Big Rapids,MI
I should have been more specific. The positive xable and cable to the starter are brand new as well. I replaced them around 6 months ago and they still look brand new.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 898
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From: Coos Bay
What size cables you use? Sometimes too small of cables wont allow enough current to be used. Does sound like a starter issue. Sometimes you go through a couple before finding one the truck likes. If you can find a ford starter, the truck may be happier. How does the ring gear look?
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Joined: Nov 2008
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My experience with NAPA brand rebuilt starters was that 3 out of 4 did not engage properly. These younger counter staff wouldn’t know enough to ask about manual vs auto tranny or note the difference between 351W, 351C or 351M. Maybe it is just substandard parts used in rebuild?
Either way, just keep exchanging until you get a better fitting unit. It’s easier than replacing a damaged ring gear.
Either way, just keep exchanging until you get a better fitting unit. It’s easier than replacing a damaged ring gear.
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 387
Likes: 25
There are lots of errors when getting starters from chain stores. The part numbers & applications are often wrong. Chain stores are easy access and usually cheaper, but I only go one of two routes with starters to avoid these problems. Rebuild the original starter or buy a remanufactured one from a Ford dealer.
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