new starter doesn't engage

[a_longoria_2]

I recently replaced the starter in my 95 atx. The rebuilt starter wouldn't engage with the flywheel. I thought it was a defective starter, so I took it back. The one I just got does the same thing. The starter spins, but doesn't engage. I can see where the gears grind together. Has anyone ever seen this before? The starter is exactly the same as the one that I took out. Even the gears.Any i deas?

 

[Emerald94]

How many teeth on the starter gear? You have to have exactly the same number on your new starter.

 

[a_longoria_2]

how many should there be? the ford part numbers matched. did they all have the same #?

 

[sdpatt]

Did you reinstall the shims on the replacement starters that were installed on the OEM starter? If you had shims on the mounting bolts, they needed to be installed in the same manner with the new starter. There is also a chance that the starter is not the correct version for your car. You may want to try another brand.

 

[RBade]

I had the same problem on my 93MTX, the parts store listed a 12 tooth. What I needed was a 10 tooth, which was listed under a 93 SLO. Seems they didn't put in comparble flywheels on all cars or the parts stores are screwed up. Ideally, count the teeth on the OEM starter, if you cored it and it's gone, have them bring up a different model until they display a different part number, count the teeth and if it's different then the first, I bet it'll work.

 

[a_longoria_2]

I called the parts store, and they counted the teeth on the core. It was a 12 tooth. I'll have to remove the replacement starter to count the teeth. They appeared to be exactly the same, when I set them side to side. I didn't count the teeth though. I never noticed any shims. was that exclusive to the gen 1? All I saw was the shield that covers the flywheel. Anyone know if the gen 2 atx came with shims?

 

[a_longoria_2]

I checked the two starters for a tooth count, and they are identicle. I'm not sure what else to try.

 

[RBade]

That's interesting! You could get the original starter back and take it to a shop that rebuilds them...... you know that unit worked. Good luck!

 

[LaTechSHO]

so let me get this straight..

your new starter is identical to the old one?

1.when you power the starter it spins, but the starter drive doesn't engage? OR
2.it spins and the drive engages, it just does not go far enough to grab the flywheel?

if 1 is your problem.... bring the starter back and either get one that does engage or go to another store to get a starter.

if 2 is your problem then either one of two things is the problem...

you need a new flywheel, because the old one is torn up
OR
you are missing some small differences in the starter....

Louis

 

[a_longoria_2]

The problem would be #2. The flywheel looks good. I can see it through the hole for the starter when it is out. It puzzles me, because I always thought that if the planetary gear didn't extend completely, the starter motor wouldn't spin. I thought that the plunger in the solenoid wouldn't make the connection between the contacts.