I did a bunch of work on the valvetrain of my 400 today. I'm sitting in the truck listening to it idle and i start hearing this ungodly chatter. I'm thinking my valvetrain is flying apart or something and shut it off. As the engine dies down i hear this big SCREEEEEETCH, kind of noise, like a belt thats slipping or something.

I look at my belts, they're all new and tight, and nothing is rubbing on them or anything. So i'm trying to figure out what the heck it can be, and i figure...well might as well start it up again. Whatever it was is already toast so cant really damage it anymore, at least maybe i can figure out where it's coming from.

I tried starting it and i just got a whining noise from the starter. I pull the starter out, and smoke starts coming out of the bellhousing, the starter gear is kind of noticably damaged. Inside the bellhousing i find all kinds of thin pieces of chewed up metal, a weird little spring, and a roller bearing about 1/4" wide and 1/2" long.

Now...i'm hoping that somehow my starter for some reason decided to pop out into the flywheel while the engine was running, and the engine killed it.

I'm not sure what else it could be, the clutch and throwout bearing are all brand new. I'm just kind of shocked cause i've never seen anything like this before...this a common thing with ford starters or something?

The weird thing is that a few weeks ago the solonoid died on me, and i replaced that. So how could the starter just work it's way into the flywheel all by itself?

 

Had the same kind of problem with a Pep Boys starter. The starter drive just exploded! TWICE! Ate the ring gear the second time. Buy GOOD stuff!

 

Well glad i'm not the only one. This starter came with the truck when i got it...the previous owner was a real retard...so who know's where he got it.

I was just planning on getting an advance auto lifetime warrenty one, or maybe napa if they have lifetime warrenty.

 

Seems like EVERYBODY has a lifetime warranty! But what's the point if the "lifetime" is only three weeks?? Just buy quality parts! You might pay more, but you'll only have to replace it ONCE!

 

the napa one I got is a rebuilt one with a three year warranty. 3 months no problem, knock on wood.

 

uh...and what would you consider quality?

 

I got a Ford starter for my 99 F150 no probs going on year 3

 

did the starter engage while the engine was runing or not disengage when engine started?
if it did engage while engine was running there is another problem somewhere,they don't engage themselves