Starter Grinding, no engine turnover

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Dec 20, 2004 | 07:48 AM

BroncJMU

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Starter Grinding, no engine turnover

This morning I tried to start the Bronco in 11 degree (F) cold for the first time ever. Thes starter made a medium-high pitched grinding noise and the engine didnt turn over.

In recent months, i have had starter solenoid problems where the starter would stay engaged. Is the starter done?

Try again when its not so cold?

THANKS!

Dec 20, 2004 | 08:22 PM

Hooker Bob

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From: Duncan,OK

Sounds like the starter drive took a crap. Either that or the flywheel is missing some teeth.

Pat

Dec 20, 2004 | 09:11 PM

travisesty

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A lot of times also to is when the valve covers or something like that leaks oil, it always wants to find it's way to the starter and when it does all the gunk and crud collects in and on the starter........so when it's cold outside and bendix doesn't want to engage so well could be the problem or like what the other guys said, the starter took a dump or worse but not likely would be the flywheel

Dec 21, 2004 | 05:20 AM

SproutW

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The good news is the problem is usually the starter and not the flywheel. The starter gear is made of a softer metal then the flywheel and the starter usually self destructs before the flywheel. Do yourself and favor and replace the starter. I agree with everyone else the starter gear has gone bad. When you pull the starter out, check the flywheel for missing teeth but I'm sure they will be fine.

Dec 21, 2004 | 07:43 AM

BroncJMU

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Thanks

Im glad the popular theory is that the starter is gone, and not something terribly more difficult/expensive. Unfortunately the car is parked on the street and its 25 degrees and dark when i get home from work.

I guess ill get some wd-40 on there for the next few nights and wait til the weekend when its supposed to warm up.

Its an 86 with an automatic 302. Any suggestions on replacement brand?

Thanks again.

Dec 21, 2004 | 04:47 PM

travisesty

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I don't know what area of the country you live, but here in Oklahoma.....Autozone, O-Reilly's, Napa are the big parts stores. I've had problems both with O-reillys and Autozone starters......either not meshing right with my flywheel or in the instance my new O-reilly starter dumped after 3 month's when I was putting my bass boat in the water and shut off the engine and tried to re-start it.( I had to swim underwater and bang the crud out of it and it cranked, but that was my last o-reilly starter). I've always had luck with just using my own starter and having a speciallity Alternator/starter rebuilt place overhaul mine instead of buying one, but if I had to buy on, I've never had a problem with any napa items. (watch, you'll get 30 replys on Napa junk items), but that's been my luck with such problems. And remember, it's a ford, you can change that starter out in 10 minutes easy, just remember to make sure the copper terminal coming out of the starter, it should have a cad-colored nut on it, make sure it's tight. good luck

Travis