Finally got the starter moving. Tried to get the car started up, at first it turned over a few times, refilling fuel lines etc since everything drained when I swapped the motors. It started to catch, then stalled out. Tried again, and now the starter doesn't seem to be engaging the flywheel, I just hear it spinning away. I'm ready to set this friggin car on fire...any ideas?

 

your starter sylonoid is bad or sticking just get another starter this happened to me.

 

The solenoid is fine. When I turn the key, the starter is spinning. Even if the starter is not wired to the solenoid, when the key is turned you can hear the solenoid clicking over. I'm not sure if the starter motor itself has worn out, or if it just needs some lube or what. It was working fine before I did the motor swap.

 

The gear isn't being pushed out. Get a new starter.

Happens all the time with ma70 supra starters...they'll spin fine, but won't push out to engage the flywheel/flex plate.

 

well mine did the same exact thing it would work sometimes and sometimes just spin so get another one.

 

i agree, your starter motor is fine, but sounds like your solenoid is not causing your gear to come out. replace starter or find a used solenoid at the junkyard.
cheap fix.
colnago

 

I thought the gear came out on the splines, through centribugal force? Not because the solenoid pushes it out.

 

true, the solenoid is like a relay that allows battery power to starter motor, it also allows the bendix gear to come out to engage flywheel.
it's a little more complicated than that, as there also is a overrunning clutch that could be slipping an not allowing gear to come out.

 

Just get a new starter, trust me. Don't ask how I know. Those soldenoids are easy to get fucked up.

I got one at a junkyard for like $8.It's easy, simple, and will most likely fix ur problem. And hell, if it doesn't, you know the problem lies elsewhere.

 

I'm having a similar problem but I got a new starter and it's the same
​​​The starter will spin and make a grinding noise but no start