Loud Grinding noise when starting ???

YJ Rider · 05-28-2007, 07:47 AM

Guys,

I have this terrbile griding noise when starting between the flywheel and the starter. I pulled the starter and it APPEARS ?? to be fine. Once running its great but something is definetly not right.

The teeth on the flywheel look a bit worn and it almost looks like the starter gears are only hitting about half of the meat of the gears on the flywheel gears.

Has anyone else ever seen or heard of this. I was hoping to get some feedback before I drop the tranny and start replacing things not knowing exactly what is wrong?????

**Double Dog** · 05-28-2007, 07:50 AM

The starter solonoid may be getting weak and no allowing the starter gear to fully engage or your fly wheel is chipped. Does it happen every time you try to start it? How long has this been happening?

YJ Rider · 05-28-2007, 09:13 AM

It happens every time.

The flywheel is chipped a bit but only on the very ends and is it minimal. Have you ever had to shim a flywheel out away from the tranny to line the two up?

I have never heard of a starter getting weak but anything is possible. I was thinking of getting a new starter and trying that out in the event that is the issue. It is a easy thing to try and would make sense if that is the case.

What do you think? I got this from a backwoods fella who used a lot of non-traditional methods to piece things together. Everything I find turns into an adventure...

Burnerman · 05-28-2007, 09:38 AM

Is it the right starter? The 87's used a different starter ,I believe. Here's a link.http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/87-yj-4-2-starter-problem-336276/?highlight=Starter+1987
Or this is what the Search brought uphttp://www.jeepforum.com/forum/search.php?searchid=1150784
The 87's use a different starter P/N. MAke sure you have the right one.

YJ Rider · 05-28-2007, 09:45 AM

That could explain a lot. The motor is from an 88 and the rest of it is from an 87. I am not sure which one is which.

Sounds like my next move should be to take the one I got in and try and get the 87 or 88 (whichever is the one I do not have now).

Thanks tons for the help. I will let you know how it turns out...

YJ Rider · 06-07-2007, 09:59 AM

From what I can see comparing the starters I am good with the one that I currently have and it seems to be working.

The next step will be replacing the starter solenoid. Does this regulate the power going to the starter? Is there a way to test this before I go buy a new one?

bamato · 06-07-2007, 10:06 AM

I had this same problem. My battery was no good. Have auto parts store check the battery before pullin ur hair out

YJ Rider · 06-07-2007, 10:08 AM

Battery is new. Checks good on charger.

bamato · 06-07-2007, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YJ Rider

Battery is new. Checks good on charger.

Well you had to go and spoil my suggestion.

Check all ur grounds?

YJ Rider · 06-07-2007, 10:46 AM

I will check all of the connections. For $20 I am going to pick up a new solenoid today and see what it does. It can't hurt and would eliminate an unknown.

tony673 · 06-07-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YJ Rider

I have never heard of a starter getting weak but anything is possible. I was thinking of getting a new starter and trying that out in the event that is the issue..

The starter "went weak" in an XJ that I had a while back. The thing just plain wouldn't crank, so I took it off and brought it to autozone. They tested it and said it was fine, the shaft came out, and spun. As I was walking out the door, the manager spoke up and said, "that starter doesn't sound they way it should, it needs replaced." I bought the new starter, installed it, and the XJ fired right up. I almost walked out of there empty handed until a keen ear from an experienced wrencher helped me out.

My guess is that the electrical part of the starter isn't working quite right and is on it's way to failure. There's probably not enough power push the shaft out far enough to engage properly.

Just a guess, but maybe that's it.

**zeus87gn** · 06-07-2007, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YJ Rider

The teeth on the flywheel look a bit worn and it almost looks like the starter gears are only hitting about half of the meat of the gears on the flywheel gears.

Has anyone else ever seen or heard of this. I was hoping to get some feedback before I drop the tranny and start replacing things not knowing exactly what is wrong?????

Rider,
Think about what you have stated, and the fact that everyone has said that the 87 uses a different starter, you need to consider what I am about to tell you.

Your grinding won't go away. You can make adjustments, shim, wallow out holes to make more adjustments and it won't make any difference. The starter gear will eventually wear down the teeth on the flywheel and it will need to be repaired if it doesn't self destruct first.

Put simply, You have the wrong starter - unless you have changed starters from 5/28 to 6/7. The starter you need has a longer housing for the gear to ride properly on the flywheel...about 3/8" longer than what you have been using. Which happens to be about half the length of the teeth on your flywheel.

I have seen this with my own eyes and experienced it. Went through 2 flywheel gears and 4 starters. The manager of my local AutoZoo now knows me on a first name basis. The last starter I got showed me the 3/8" difference. I told them about it and they obviously haven't done anything about it. That was 4 yrs ago.

If you feel that you have solved your problem, just ignore this post.

YJ Rider · 06-07-2007, 12:04 PM

I pulled the starter out last night. I am going to hit NAPA tonight to get a new one of them and a solenoid. I will try the new starter with the old solenoid first and if that doesn't work replace the solenoid as well.

I appreciate the advice that everyone else has with this and will hopefully use that so I do not go through it all again. At least to the same extent...

FF151DJG · 06-07-2007, 04:23 PM

it could be the tolerance between your starter teeth and the flywheel teeth is not allowing the starter to engage the flywheel. this can happen when you have taken a used starter and put it on a different application. the teeth for both have not been "worn" together. put a shim in between the starter and block and see if that helps the problem. i have never had to put more than a piece of coke can in mine and it takes the problem away. just cut an aluminum can and make a flat piece to go between your mounting surfaces then bolt it back in and see if it helps.

YJ Rider · 06-07-2007, 04:26 PM

I may have an engine and tranny from an 88 in my 87. How can I tell?