Hello,

I'm pretty new to the forum and see there's a lot of good sense in here, so i was wondering if somebody could please helo me.

So Today I go out th start my car and the starter winds normal like it should but it's not connected to the engine, I'm suspecting my solenoid even though I replaced it 3 months ago and put it on the same starter because it was still very good. It started doing this when the snow hit about a week ago and it was doing it more and more untill today...nothing...

Your help would be fantastically appreciated, Thanks

 

If the starter is turning but the engine isn't, the starter drive is broken. It's about $15 and takes about 30 minutes to put in for someone who hasn't done it before. I've had to replace mine twice now, and I don't even have a high-compression engine (yet, ).

:edit: Check the starter alignment while you're down there. Don't lose any shims. Use a 1/8" allen wrench (hex key) and feel between the flexplate teeth and the starter shaft. The fit should be tight. A sloppy fit means that a shim needs to be removed and no fit means one needs to be added. A guy who's Z28 I had the pleasure of fighting with an oil pan gasket on had to replace 2 starters in 3 months due to a misaligned starter that kept chewing up the starter drive (no shims and WAY too close to the flexplate).

 

Is it possible for it to shift because I just re-adjusted it about 2 or 3 months ago when I replaced the solenoid. And should I get it towed to my school to work on it and put it in the air or should i put the money from the tow into parts to do it for maybe nextime? It's kinda on a wet hill and I don't have a jack or jackstands right now.....what would you guys do?

 

It's not the solenoid if the starter is running but the engine isn't turning. Yes, if the wrong bolts are in the holes (there's 2 sizes and I've had both), yes, the starter can shift. More than likely, if you can't hear the gears on the starter and flexplate clashing as the starter fails to engage, the starter drive is worn out.

I had to change out the first one at a gas station, in 20's degree weather, in the snow. And it took every last penny I had to replace the drive. If you have to, use the emergency jack in the spare tire well and get the drive replaced and then check the alignment when you get the chance.

:edit: The reason you're noticing this now is because the engine gets harder to turn when cold, because the oil becomes thicker, and it seems that the last remnants of the clutch in the starter drive finally gave out.

 

Thanks Maverick I really appreciate the help

 

Chances are the gears are worn, or the clutch broke....either way you probably need a new one.

 

Yeah I just went and got a platinum starter and called it a day had to get it runnin immediately, and it was the clutch super slipping and stripped but all good now thanks for all the help!

 

Make sure you check the flexplate to starter shaft clearance or you could end up replacing it again sooner than you'd like.

 

will do for sure, would there be any noticeable signs of misalignment?

 

Mostly noise. You'll hear the difference when you get the starter aligned. IIRC, a loud squeal is too far away and a clunk as the engine fires and the starter disengages is too close (flywheel teeth are kicking the overrun clutch back into the starter and potentially doing bad things).

However, a squeal can also be the fault of the starter bushings as well, noticed when the starter disengages as it's coasting down to a stop. But this won't be anywhere near as loud as when the starter is too far from the flywheel teeth.