Getting "already started" noise when starting

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Feb 24, 2016 | 07:01 PM

#16

danr1

Lead Driver

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 5,670

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From: Sand Lake, MI

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.K

Is this a common occurrence? This morning I went out to start my truck, and I got nothing but fast grinding. I noticed that the tach also jumped to 8-900 RPM while this was all going on. It seems that the starter gear is not coming into full contact with the teeth on the flex plate. It was raining this morning, and I had a 4 year old glued to my side so I couldn't do any troubleshooting. Does anyone know the bolt size in case this could be an issue with a loose/missing starter bolt?
I've never had a problem with starting my truck...no known flat spots on the flex plate...no issues with the battery. It's always done what it's had to do, which is why I'm surprised that this just happened without warning.

BTW, I have a '91 F150 XLT Lariat with a 5.0 and E4OD trans.

Tach actively reading out 8-900 rpms and while engine wasn't driven via the starter?

Feb 25, 2016 | 09:51 AM

#17

D.K

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Joined: Jun 2015

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Quote:

Originally Posted by danr1

Tach actively reading out 8-900 rpms and while engine wasn't driven via the starter?

Yes. Maybe the starter was coming in contact just enough to spin the engine, but I'm not sure. I still haven't been able to take a look due to weather conditions.

Feb 25, 2016 | 09:59 AM

#18

D.K

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Joined: Jun 2015

Posts: 23

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Quote:

Originally Posted by joey2fords

14mm bolt, if i remember correctly.
starter wear is more common than a bolt coming loose, but it's well worth a check.
there is no way you could know about any "flat spots" on the flex plate without having actually removed the starter to check. rotate the engine via the crankshaft pulley bolt to inspect the ring gears entire circumference. teeth don't have to be missing to cause grinding, what looks to some to be fairly minor wear is enough. if the ring gear is good, then it's probably just the bendix drive on the starter, but common practice these days is to just replace the whole starter.

Thanks for your response. I can't be certain of any flat spots, but I drive the truck pretty regularly with numerous starting cycles, and I've never had anything like this happen before. Never so much as a "what just happened" moment. I'm going to get out there this weekend and take a look. I don't know much about the history of my truck so it could be a definite possibility that the starter gear isn't being pushed out enough to make full contact with the flex plate. We will see.