Starter question
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 1
From: N. Mississippi
Starter question
I own a 97 F-150 with a 4.6 engine and every so often when I start the truck, it sounds like the starter has hit a bad spot on the ring gear. Now this may happen once in 6 or 7 months of driving...or once every month. There is no set pattern to when it does it.
My question is, if there is a bad spot on the ring gear, would it do it more often than every few months or so? I drove it for almost 10 months before it did it again. It usually starts on the second or third time I crank the engine.
I was told that it could be the solenoid sticking and not letting the gear engage fully on the ring gear. I was also told by a fellow Ford man, my brother-in-law, that it could be a loose connection on the starter itself.
Anyone have any idea what it may be?
Thanks for any answers.
Richard
My question is, if there is a bad spot on the ring gear, would it do it more often than every few months or so? I drove it for almost 10 months before it did it again. It usually starts on the second or third time I crank the engine.
I was told that it could be the solenoid sticking and not letting the gear engage fully on the ring gear. I was also told by a fellow Ford man, my brother-in-law, that it could be a loose connection on the starter itself.
Anyone have any idea what it may be?
Thanks for any answers.
Richard
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
Could be either. Can't tell from where I'm sitting. The bendix drive on the starter may be sticking or on it's way out. Usually a new or rebuilt starter is the cure. I will tell you this: If you continue to allow the problem to remain unresolved, you will chew up the ring gear to the point that all you'll hear is a ZINNNGGG! when you turn the ignition key. At that point, the cure is to replace the flywheel. $tep 1 in flywheel replacement: Remove the transmission.
Don't let it get that far.
Don't let it get that far.
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 1
From: N. Mississippi
Thanks Paul.......I really appreciate the response. Like I said....it's very random and it may go 6 to 10 months before it does it. Otherwise, the starter sounds fine when cranking the engine. Thanks again Paul.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,673
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Area
For what its worth, I have a 2001 4.6, that is apparently doing the same thing. Done it since new. It is very infrequent, but it DOES sound bad when it happens (I'll be real unhappy if it happens around my brother-in-law who has a GMC!).
I probably should have complained when it was still under warranty, but I often go months without it happening (I probably average 6 starts a day) and I've got bigger problems to deal with. Still, if the problem were on record, maybe if the flywheel goes, I'd get some help from Ford (my dealer is real good, and has gone beyond the letter of the warranty on several occasions).
I've got 93,000 miles on her now. I really can't say that its getting worse (or better!). My guess is that occasionally the starter gear hits right in the middle of the flywheel gear and doesn't engage before it starts to turn.
I guess if it starts happening more frequently I will change out the starter so as not to possibly further damage the flywheel.
I probably should have complained when it was still under warranty, but I often go months without it happening (I probably average 6 starts a day) and I've got bigger problems to deal with. Still, if the problem were on record, maybe if the flywheel goes, I'd get some help from Ford (my dealer is real good, and has gone beyond the letter of the warranty on several occasions).
I've got 93,000 miles on her now. I really can't say that its getting worse (or better!). My guess is that occasionally the starter gear hits right in the middle of the flywheel gear and doesn't engage before it starts to turn.
I guess if it starts happening more frequently I will change out the starter so as not to possibly further damage the flywheel.
