mxjosh

So the other dY wen i went to start my car all i got was the sound of metal grinding....so i left it for a while came bak...it startd right up the second i turnd the key...so i turnd it off and tryd again....went bak to metal on metal

So i push started it it startd and drove fine so i switchd the starter...still soundin like metal on metal...i checkd the teeth on flywheel and they were good

Anyone have any ideas?

marcs1337

ignition switch...possibly starter...the grinding you are hearing is from the starter, but something is engaging the starter to make it grind...either the ign. switch isnt disengaging, or the starter is bad

z6hatchboy

its the starter, im pretty sure

mxjosh

Its not the starter bcuzz i switched it 3 times jus to be sure with some extras i have and one outta a perfectly fine eg 4 door i have

Could anythiny with the wiring cuzz this bcuzz i moved my fusebox into the cabin and thr ground for the starter is a little taunt and i recently reloomed my entire harness

The_Honda_Guy

It's the starter grinding. Are you sure that it's shimmed properly with the teeth in the flywheel? Are you sure it's installed correctly and that you have the correct starter?

mxjosh

any certain way to shim it properly with flywheel because the teeth dont push out till starter had power?

im almost posotive i installed all 3 correct, i no all wiring was on and all

and i have a d16 zc vtec i had a starter from a d15 4 door eg that was workin fine for weeks..then i put the starter on that came on the zc....still grinding..then i tryed one from another d15 4 door eg i have....same thing

i just checked starter signal fuse its fine and i checked the ground i mentioned earlier and it is also fine

The_Honda_Guy

Shimming them can be tough to do without knowledge of how to do it. Did your original one come with shims at all? You're correct, the armature in the starter doesn't move out until you start cranking the car, so it can be a PITA to shim it correctly. Have you tried a NEW starter yet, not just used ones?

mxjosh

what do you mean did the old one come with shims?

and the car was starting fine for weeks after i swapped it then one day it randomly did this so i dont believe it was from improper installation

and no all starters were used but one was from a car i started the other day so i dont think that one is bad

The_Honda_Guy

Sometimes the old starter will have shims already on it.

Does it only make the sound when you turn the key then it goes away?

mxjosh

what exactly is a shim? lol

and yes just when i turn the key but it does not start....wen i push started it, it didnt make any sounds when it started up or ran

mxjosh

help please!

The_Honda_Guy

If it only makes the sound when you turn the key and doesn't make the sound when you push start it then it's definitely the starter. I'd go to the parts store and pick up a new starter and give it a try.

You don't know what a shim is? They come in all shapes and sizes. Shims can be wood, plastic, metal, just abouy anything, but on a starter they're metal.

Just pick up a new starter and install it without shims and see if the car starts and the sound goes away.

mxjosh

ok im still not getting what a shim is or y the starter that is perfectly from my running 4 door would make that noise

marcs1337

shim=spacer

mxjosh

ok im still not getting y a perfectly good started would still make that noise when put into my car

94EGKUSH

dude! i had this happen to me before.
Try using a battery you know that works.
just do it then come back.

santacruzccs

ignition electical problem

blueg6

i have a similar problem. this happens to me when the key is turned too far when starting the car, sometimes my ignition will go as if there was a "4." then thats when ill hear the grinding and also my vtec controller doesnt turn on nor does my radio or any of the dash buttons untill it is brought back down to "3."

EDIT: the grinding only occurs when i step on the clutch.

mxjosh

ok....battery is fine because it works fine in my 4 door

all the teeth on the flywheel are fine i checked

it deff. could be the ignition because the ignition has been ****ed up since i got the car...i can take the key out with ease when the car is running

i guess ill try the ignition..but could lengthening the wire from the posotive terminal to the fuse box have anything to do to this (keep in mind i lengthened the wire 2 weeks ago and ran fin till now)

and it does it as soon as i barely turn the key to start the car with the clutch down, so its not exactly the same as what you were sayin blueg6...but could be similar

mxjosh

so should i just look into getting a whole new ignition switch?

such as this http://www.autozone.com/selectedZip,.../selectZip.htm