New starter worked fine for 1 day now won't engage.

[jimtash]

Replaced the old starter because it was engaging sporadically with a remanufactured unit yesterday. It worked perfectly and engaged the flywheel and cranked normal. Today though all it does is spin when the key is turned and the gear won't extend to make contact with the flywheel. Flywheel teeth are good as this is a recently rebuilt engine and no problems with the teeth were visible. Obviously it isn't the starter unit itself because the old starter suffered the same symptoms so where should I start looking? Solenoid?

 

[trainguy1989]

89 Correct? Replace the Starter Solenoid

 

[intimdatr]

89 Correct? Replace the Starter Solenoid

This, and this alone

 

[jimtash]

Yes sir, for the '89.

Replaced the solenoid with a Napa unit and it still did the same thing. Ended up putting the old starter back on and it works for now. The newer starter's gear will turn in both directions and from what I understand it's only supposed to turn in one correct?

 

[intimdatr]

You may have received a bad unit. other than that i dont really know what else would causing that. Because i doubt you had it wired wrong.

 

[jimtash]

Can't wire them wrong. There's only two wires that go there. The old starter didn't engage twice today since putting it back on but other than that works perfectly. The weird thing is I had it tested last week because of the engagement problem and it worked fine only to engage sporadically when on the car.

I also had an alternator go out so maybe the lack of juice going to the battery had something to do with it. That's been taken care of with a replacement unit and it's definitely doing its job. The dash lights glow brighter and the windshield wipers seem to operate quicker. It was raining here BTW so that's why they got a workout.

 

[93markVIII]

ok. is the starter on an 89 like the on a 92? if so, if it spins, the solenoid is engaged. if if doesn't turn the engine over, then the clutch in the gear reduction head is worn out. replace the starter.

the gear is engaging, but not spinning.