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general starter /ignition problem


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mike hammer
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Feb 22, 2008, 7:07 AM

Post #1 of 9 (2504 views)
general starter /ignition problem Sign In

My 1993 plymouth acclaim (6 cyl 3 litre) will sometimes have a great misery to start. Upon turning the key the car will either just start as expected, less often it will make a very slight grinding sound and not start until the next try or even more rarely make a grinding sound then a sound as if something were just spinning freely, like a wheel on an axis but not touching the ground. the battery has been tested, the starter is new but was installed by me. battery post clamps are clean.The car also idles low and a bit rough until well warmed.It is an old car but generally runs well the new starter worked fine for 3or 4 months. on this model is self adjustment of idle or fuel intake advisable. Is the idle or injection for starting on the same line as the gas that is bound for the combustion chamber to power the vehicule.


dave284
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Feb 22, 2008, 7:48 AM

Post #2 of 9 (2500 views)
Re: general starter /ignition problem Sign In

The grinding sound/ did you inspect the teeth of the flywheel?/ After the new starter was installed did you still hear a grinding noise or that started later afterwards? Does the car always start easily or its a constant cranking before starting? A bad fuel delivery system can cause premature wear in a starter.The vehicle's idle is preset , the computer handles adjustments but not dirt or varnish that builds up over time in the throttle bodyUnimpressed


dmac0923
Enthusiast

Feb 22, 2008, 8:44 AM

Post #3 of 9 (2499 views)
Re: general starter /ignition problem Sign In

your flywheel ring gear has a a flat spot with the teeth ground off/missing. your going to need to replace the flywheel
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mike hammer
User

Feb 22, 2008, 9:19 AM

Post #4 of 9 (2497 views)
Re: general starter /ignition problem Sign In

The starter worked fine for 3or 4 months, it is unpredictable when the starter will have trouble sometimes it starts like a charm and other times it seems to be spinning freely. Is the flywheel the piece into which the teth on the starter fit.And is it a good diagnostic to run some injector cleaner in the gas and see what happens to the idling or do these products work well enough .


dave284
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Feb 22, 2008, 10:06 AM

Post #5 of 9 (2494 views)
Re: general starter /ignition problem Sign In

Yes ,you could be catching spots where the flywheel teeth are missing/worn down. As for the fuel treatments on the market you pay for what you get , myself I always use a injector cleaner made by mopar I get it from the dodge dealership $12.00 a bottle but you could try STP brand. And carb cleaner spray to take care of the throttle bodyUnimpressed what about the fuel filter, when last time changed?


Tom Greenleaf
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Feb 22, 2008, 10:27 AM

Post #6 of 9 (2493 views)
Re: general starter /ignition problem Sign In

To add: Starter: If that "just spinning" sound is more like a hummmm - it could be a bad starter drive, some just don't lock even though gear has engaged.

The broken tooth sounds a bit more dramatic like a screech and just nudging engine to the next tooth they will start with no symptoms. Generally when missing tooth or teeth are the problem you will notice this every third try. STARTER DRIVES are available separately on most starters and can be fussy to install,

T



dave284
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Feb 22, 2008, 11:21 AM

Post #7 of 9 (2490 views)
Re: general starter /ignition problem Sign In

What was the original starter doing before the replacement? There has been a couple of times running into that problem with the drive not engaging went thru 3 startersUnsure thanks Tom reminding me to bad post don't have sound effectsWink


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Feb 22, 2008, 11:50 AM

Post #8 of 9 (2488 views)
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Dave - others: Interpretting a sound is tricky at best. I kinda thought this one sounded like a drive problem but if two or more starter did the same that would be highly unlikely. Starter drives should be new in a rebuilt starter but I know for sure they don't all get changed and don't really know of the life expectancy of those.

Haven't run across a bad one in ages now but did have years where about every 5th starter problem be just that item and I did replace just the drives not the whole starter.

I've owned a few with bad flywheel gears and just got used to turning the engine either nudged in gear if a standard or some you can turn a bit by a belt - you know some real junker cars that you just aren't going to fix right if you can fake it.

On some cars there are shims that made then howl if too tight so you added one or removed one so the gears meshed closer. Just haven't had many starters go bad in ages at all now.

Of interest: Site management was thinking of making a noise chart like the emoticons that would simulate noises in a universal manner for us to hear. That would be an interest aid to the noises issues,

T



dave284
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Feb 22, 2008, 1:27 PM

Post #9 of 9 (2482 views)
Re: general starter /ignition problem Sign In

It would help meCrazy.






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