Starter, flywheel ??
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 20
From: Nixa
Starter, flywheel ??
My friend has a 89 F-150, 302, Auto tranny. He has had to replace the starter at least 3 times since he got the truck a few years ago.
I don't know if the starters were bad or what, but I do know that the last time (whicjh was only a month ago) he was driving about 2 miles from home he finally noticed the starter was still spinning. So he shut the truck off then tried to start it again, but no go.
I towed the truck back to his houseand we went and got another starter, all was fine til today. When he tried to start it this morning. he says it didn't make any sound ay all.
He went and gotanother starter and a new solinoid and put them both on. Now he says all it does is come out and spin, but wont start the truck.
I'm guessing the flywheel is bad. Or could it be something else? He said he follow the directions that came with the solinoid when hooking up the wires. I don't know why he didn't copy the wires on the old one first. So maybe the directions were generic, and not exactly what his is supposed to be.
Any ideas?
I don't know if the starters were bad or what, but I do know that the last time (whicjh was only a month ago) he was driving about 2 miles from home he finally noticed the starter was still spinning. So he shut the truck off then tried to start it again, but no go.
I towed the truck back to his houseand we went and got another starter, all was fine til today. When he tried to start it this morning. he says it didn't make any sound ay all.
He went and gotanother starter and a new solinoid and put them both on. Now he says all it does is come out and spin, but wont start the truck.
I'm guessing the flywheel is bad. Or could it be something else? He said he follow the directions that came with the solinoid when hooking up the wires. I don't know why he didn't copy the wires on the old one first. So maybe the directions were generic, and not exactly what his is supposed to be.
Any ideas?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,118
Likes: 149
From: South Dakota
The other end of the large battery cable that hooks to the positive battery post and all the smaller cables with the large eye hook on the large solenoid bolt farthest from the battery. The only cable that goes on the large solenoid bolt closest to the battery is the large cable that goes down to the starter.
If the cables are on correct and all the starter does is spin, put a socket on the bolt in front of the engine and turn the engine over a bit. If the starter then turns the engine, the teeth are gone on a spot on the flywheel. If the starter still just spins, it must be a bad starter.
If the cables are on correct and all the starter does is spin, put a socket on the bolt in front of the engine and turn the engine over a bit. If the starter then turns the engine, the teeth are gone on a spot on the flywheel. If the starter still just spins, it must be a bad starter.
Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 284
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do like i did get this starter from ebay. it should last forever Ford Mean Green Gear Reduction Starter 289 302 351 : eBay Motors (item 350323261189 end time Mar-31-10 13:28:57 PDT)
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,672
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From: Nixa
Thanks guys, I found the problem. he had taken the starter back to oreillys and they tested it and said it was good. So he went home and put it back in along with the new solinoid.
I went other there this morning to figure it out. He had the solinoid hooked up correctly. It turns out the starter was bad. It would spin, but not kick out. I had him turn it over and heard it. So I had him take the starter out, and I put jumper cables on. Annd my diagnosis was correct, all it did was spin.
We took it too Bumper To Bumper and they tested it just to double check lol. He bought a new starter there and took the POS starter back to Oreillys and got his money back. He then put the new starter in and all is good.
I have no idea why Oreillys couldn't see that the starter was only spinning and not kicking out.
I went other there this morning to figure it out. He had the solinoid hooked up correctly. It turns out the starter was bad. It would spin, but not kick out. I had him turn it over and heard it. So I had him take the starter out, and I put jumper cables on. Annd my diagnosis was correct, all it did was spin.
We took it too Bumper To Bumper and they tested it just to double check lol. He bought a new starter there and took the POS starter back to Oreillys and got his money back. He then put the new starter in and all is good.
I have no idea why Oreillys couldn't see that the starter was only spinning and not kicking out.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,538
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From: Des Moines
It's a total crap shoot when it comes to the knowledge of auto store employees. I've known some that knew cars inside and out- you could ask them anything and get an answer- and then some don't know the difference between standard and metric bolts. Well... okay, so maybe not THAT bad, but you get my point. I've learned that the best thing to do is to find an auto store and/or employee that knows his stuff, and then do your best to deal with him [or her] every time you go in. Saves a lot of hassle, and it tends to build a relationship with someone that's familiar with your vehicle, which can be a huge help.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 170
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From: South Florida
It's a total crap shoot when it comes to the knowledge of auto store employees. I've known some that knew cars inside and out- you could ask them anything and get an answer- and then some don't know the difference between standard and metric bolts. Well... okay, so maybe not THAT bad, but you get my point. I've learned that the best thing to do is to find an auto store and/or employee that knows his stuff, and then do your best to deal with him [or her] every time you go in. Saves a lot of hassle, and it tends to build a relationship with someone that's familiar with your vehicle, which can be a huge help.
Another time I went into the same store looking for an electrical terminal that I needed when replacing my fuel pump. I had the pump in hand and pointed to the male terminal and asked if they could help me find a female terminal to fit it. No lie, the clerked said, "So, like, your truck is a boy?"
