a lot of the times when i go to start my car, it goes WAAAAAAAAA!! and it sounds like the starter isn't catching. the car doesn't start. i was wondering if anyone's had this problem.. is it the starter or am i missing teeth on the flywheel, or is it both??? thanks

edit: '94 gsr, remanufactured starter, act light flywheel

 

Sounds like starter solenoid is bad. Problem worse when warm? Replace the starter. If you had teeth missing from the ring gear, you would have to turn the engine over until a section of flywheel with teeth was adjecent to the starter.

Dave

 

i'd say its your flywheel, I have the same problem with my spoon flywheel, its not missing theeth just warn down. Lightened flywheels tend to do this, if u roll your car a bit it should start just fine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lke2drvgsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">when i go to start my car, it goes WAAAAAAAAA!! </TD></TR></TABLE>

I need more info... Can you hear the starter spinning? or does it sound like it trying to but just can't turn the engine over? Any grinding sounds?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spoonfed95 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I need more info... Can you hear the starter spinning? or does it sound like it trying to but just can't turn the engine over? Any grinding sounds?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree.... does is make that noise when you turn the key, but the next time you turn it it starts?

 

my friend describes it as a "fast grinding" between the starter and flywheel, and the longer i hold it down, the higher pitch it goes. this weekend maybe i can get an audio clip of it.. thanks for the help

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by btleier &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I agree.... does is make that noise when you turn the key, but the next time you turn it it starts?</TD></TR></TABLE>

sometimes it does, sometimes it takes me 10 mins of trying to turn it. and rolling it a little bit in gear then starting it has usually worked for me... but that's ghetto and i gotta figure out a way to fix this

 

hmmm.... with the way you describe it, it doesn't sound like the starter to me. anyone else have opinions on this?

 

Trying taking the starter out and looking at it. No more guessing. One will be broken.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by btleier &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmmm.... with the way you describe it, it doesn't sound like the starter to me. anyone else have opinions on this?</TD></TR></TABLE>

what else would it be? it just sounds like the teeth aren't matching up, so it's a relatively high pitched grinding sound, like the teeth aren't matching up and it's just spinning..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spoonfed95 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Trying taking the starter out and looking at it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

got any writeups on how to do it? or is it just a couple of bolts?

 

It's a common problem with alot (but not all) Integras w/ aftermarket lightened flywheel. Replace w/ a Del Sol or Civic Si(R) starter as its shaft comes out a tad further thus abling to catch the flywheel teeth much more.

 

Haven't had any problems w/ my Clutchmasters 7.5 lb flywheel for over 25K miles now.

Now a common problem among older Camrys like I used to have would be for some of the flywheel teeth to break off in a certain section. Every now and then, when you shut off the engine, the flywheel would just happen to stop at the starter on that section. When you tried to start it, it would make that sound kinda like if you've ever turned the key to start the car when the engine was already running (nasty nasty sound ). But even when doing that, it would move the flywheel just barely, and eventually it would get to a part with good teeth and finally the starter would catch and start the car.

So does it do it all the time, or only random times? If all the time, it's either a problem w/ the starter, or almost all the flywheel teeth are broken off, with only a few left. If it only happens at random times every now and then, I would bet a few teeth are broken off in one or more sections.

 

yea it only happens at random times... i hope it's not a few teeth off the flywheel

 

like other's have had said so far, check the teeth on the flywheel. Also take the starter out and examine the starter teeth to make sure it's not worn down either. And last make sure the starter solenoid plunger(the part that makes the gear go outward to meet the flywheel) is actually in working order. it could be not gummed up or extremly filled with dirt to a point the plunger won't be fully engaged when you start the engine, the front edge of the gear on the starter will only catch a few teeth on the flywheel causing that zinging sound when it starts.