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Confirming early signs of Starter failure.

J

jborge

CEG'er
Joined
Sep 19, 2000
Messages
31
Location
BC, Canada
About 3 times now with a period of weeks in between, when I start the car it briefly is grinding like the sound of hold the ignition on after the car has started. It is very brief, and not a problem so far.

Is this the signs of death of my starter?

How much time do I have?

I found this on another site:

Freewheeling, and not releasing the starter gear are some of the final symptoms of a bad starter. When the starter tries to start the car a small gear moves out and meshes with the flywheel or flex plate on the engine and the starter then turns the flywheel or flexplate to start the engine. Once the engine starts the little gear on the starter moves back inside it so it doesn't get stripped or worn out. When the starter begins to go bad this small gear gets worn out and spins and spins until it finally catches a tooth, which is known as freewheeling. Sometimes when it doesn't retract or release properly it will stay connected with the flywheel or flexplate gear while the engine is still running and get ground down. Both of these things will sound like a grinding or whining/spinning electricmotor noise when you try and start your engine. It will be loud and you will notice it. If you have ever accidentally tried to start your engine once it's already running - that is the sound it will make.
 
I have read/seen/heard the starters on the Duratec like to stick over time. The starter can be removed, disassembled, cleaned and properly lubricated, reassembled, and reinstalled.
 
zorrex said:
I have read/seen/heard the starters on the Duratec like to stick over time. The starter can be removed, disassembled, cleaned and properly lubricated, reassembled, and reinstalled.
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If the car has an aftermarket clutch, they like to do that. It builds up on the motor and prevents it from enguaging. Spraying it down with a cleaner should work. It is a tight fit getting that bugger out though, but it can be done.
 
elraido said:
If the car has an aftermarket clutch, they like to do that. It builds up on the motor and prevents it from enguaging. Spraying it down with a cleaner should work. It is a tight fit getting that bugger out though, but it can be done.
Click to expand...

Yeah, and be careful what you rear about R&R on the starter! Some people think you need to remove the entire freaking engine (note: exaggeration) to get the damn starter out. Totally not true...
 
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