So I'm heading to the rock climbing gym tonight, and my climbing partner and I hop in the bird, and I turn the key to accessory, gently bringing up the fuel pump, as usual. After I'm sure the pump is satisfied that there's enough pressure,

I turn the key the rest of the way, and instead of an engine turning over, I hear a high pitched whine, like the starter spinning without touching the flywheel. It's done this before, so I clamly let off, wait a second, then hit it again. *whine* Hmm, that's interesting, two in a row, oh well...

About 15 minutes later and ten tries later, sounding like it's barely holding onto the flywheel, it ratchets through a few turn-overs, and the engine pops to life. Went to the gym, leaving three hours later, it starts fine, and did again after a short stop on the drive home.

Any ideas what this could be?

I stopped by Autozone on the way to the gym, and they have a 2.8 starter in stock. Jacked the rear end into a concrete pylon on the way out of the parking lot though, oops. Didn't leave a mark, I love these cars! Anyway, should I buy their starter, or could it be something else?

-Reno

wow...that was long...

 

my friend had the exact same problem with his 86 Z28. We could never figure out what the problem was. I think its a chipped tooth on the fly wheel and the starter might not be catching. Pull that little inspection cover off thats at the front of the tranny near the starter. It will give u a visual of the fly wheel so u can inspect and diagnose.

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1989 pontiac firebird
bright red exterior(just repainted)
grey interior
5 spd
305 TBI (stock)
WS.6 formula wheels
3.73 posi rear end
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system: 2 10" MTX thunder 2000 in a Professionally done custom bandpass box.
Blaupunkt CD player
Blaupunkt 4x6 and 6x9
600 watt rockford fosgate 4.6 amp

http://members.aol.com/j007golden/Mikey89.html

 

it definetly has to do with the starter
what happen to me was when i was learning to drive a stick my starter actually came loose from it's bolts and dropped several monthes later i was out with friends and my car wouldn't start at all i just brought it to my mechanic and for $129 he put in a rebuilt starter if i was in your shoes i would bring the car to a mechanic cuz you get a lot more reliabilty for just a little over a hundred bucks just my 2 cents

 

MEchanic? Sinner... Autozon'es got one for cheap, and I can put it myself.

-Reno

 

no dont pay a mechanic to do a simple job like that. Go to autozone and get the entire starter. Not the just the starter motor. There lifetime guaranteed starter was like 60$. Its easy to do. There are only 2 bolts that hold the starter in. Take them out. Take off all electrical connections(remember where they go on new starter). Wiggle that thing out of there and reverse process to install. It can be a bit of a pain in the *** so if u want to call a mechanic we'll understand

 

I'm sorry, maybe you missed my episode at the beginning of the semester, SWAPPING THE TRANSMISSION!!! Starter? Bwahahaha! That makes my dashpad look difficult to swap, puh-lease. Mechanics ae the devil. The only thing I let mechanics do is brakes and welding. I just hate doing brakes, though I have done them.

-Reno

 

The problem may just be the cylinoid on the starter. The starter sounds like it is spinning but not engaging properly.

After delivering with a camaro for 12 months you go through a lot of starters, not to mention other parts.

 

My '89 Camaro RS just started doing the same thing!...Except mine also somtimes engages and starts the car, but then keeps spinning. I was wondering if I could still drive while it was engaged into the flywheel or not?

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Randy (89 Camaro RS)

 

Yup, sounds like the solenoid. I'd imagine the solenoid would probably disengage of it's own accord; either that, or you'll spin it to destruction


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

SAVE YOURSELF!!!! If you have the weather to do it, or a garage, go get a new starter and replace ASAP. I put it off, it snowed, and the thing went to hell, took my battery with, and there was a foot of snow on the ground so I had to take it to the shop to be fixed, ALL DURING FINALS WEEK!!!! Fix it fast!!!

-Reno

 

well I finally broke down and bought a new starter for $66- Except my car has started fine ever since....I am starting to think that it had ice built up in it or around it and it wouldn't engage or disengage because of it. Maybe I should just keep it in my car, because as soon as I return it to Farm and Fleet the dang thing will surely quit on me....

1989 RS 2.8, 5-speed manual, sunroof, kicking stereo system, etc.