Starter Spinning, Not Engaging Flywheel

so i was trying to start the engine about a week ago (after letting it sit for 2-3 weeks), and i let it crank for a few seconds. i pressed the gas pedal to prime the carb a bit, and tried to crank again, and all the sudden the starter motor was just spinning without engaging the flywheel. no grinding sounds, or sounds of anything breaking. it was cranking one second and not the next.

after looking through some posts, i thought it could be flywheel, seized engine, starter solenoid, battery, or main fuse. but i checked the flywheel teeth, they look okay no noticeable damage, and i can turn the engine by hand so it doesnt appear seized. i swapped the starter (motor and solenoid), got the battery tested, and changed the 70 A battery fuse, but i'm in the same spot. the tachometer also does bounce a little when i try starting.

i also tested the old starter while i had it out and the starter drive is popping out...which made me think it would not be solenoid/motor.

there is a whirring noise from the starter, so i know its spinning, but definitely not engaging and cranking the engine. thanks in advance!!

I'd say it still sounds like the starter, sometimes they get stuck and testing it once or twice it may still work- id recommend tapping it with a mallet next time it does that. If it fixes it- it's definitely the starter. Not an uncommon issue, just a thing old starters do.

i did replace the starter with a reman, so i was hoping that would have fixed the issue. but i havent tried tapping it yet, i can give it a shot tonight

I had starter issues. Replaced it with one from Autozone. Had to return it 3-4 times to finally get a working one.

I know you said the battery tested good but I would make sure its got about 12.7 VDC.

Since the new starter doesnt work I would try the old one again and double check the connections and there is a ground wire on the trans close to it. I did a video of it last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0Bj-8pykIE&t=21s

I took your advice conozo, and returned my starter. It's still doing the same thing for now. I could replace it again, but I am feeling like I'm missing something else in the starting system.

I also got around to checking the connections around the battery, as you showed in the video Oldblueaccord. The video was really helpful, I did clean some of those key connections, including the black stuff on the battery terminal connector, and the 90 degree connections in the fuse box. But even after, I'm still getting 12V in the fuse box and at the starter, and it still just spins.

While I had the starter off, I did check the starter pinion and it looks like it was making contact at about half the depth of the gear (observed this by looking at the scratches on the pinion gear). Now I'm getting more confused, because looking at those scratches, I would think that it is making contact with the flywheel/TC, just not spinning it? But the engine can be turned manually so its not seized either. Any suggestions on anything else I can check? Thanks for the help guys!

Do you have an automatic or manual?

You should be able to remove a little rubber cover (if its still there) on the front of the engine/trans thats the timing sight hole to see if the flywheel is spinning or not when you crank it.

Just because the starter works on the bench doesn't mean that it will crank the engine. Also there are different starters, automatic vs manual transmission starters. I dont think they can be installed on the wrong car but its worth checking.

It's an automatic transmission. I am using a Mitsuba starter for automatic as well. Are you referring to the timing hole?

Yep, the timing hole. See if the starter moves the flywheel at all. I know you said your flywheel teeth are fine but did you check all the teeth around the entire flywheel?


Maybe you could put some marker paint on the teeth of the starter and see if any ends up on the flywheel

Jeez sounds like you really can't catch a break, being a parts store employee- even though you got a different starter it's still possible that the starter is still the issue. I've had customers go through a couple of them before they worked. reman starters are kinda iffy unfortunately. That said I'd chase any other leads you're getting first. Sounds like conozo has the right idea. Just figured I'd share my experience as a parts guy just to keep in mind.

I ripped out all of the battery cables to the starter and fuse box, just because i did see some corrosion and discoloration on the cables. Figured I might as well change these while I have the battery out.

I did check through the timing hole and it looks like the flywheel is in fact spinning when I turn the key in the ignition. So then the question is: if the flywheel IS spinning why is the engine not cranking?? Thanks for the suggestions, I’m determined to get to the bottom of this!

Next, take your oil cap off and see if the valves are moving up and down while you crank.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 87revival

I ripped out all of the battery cables to the starter and fuse box, just because i did see some corrosion and discoloration on the cables. Figured I might as well change these while I have the battery out.

I did check through the timing hole and it looks like the flywheel is in fact spinning when I turn the key in the ignition. So then the question is: if the flywheel IS spinning why is the engine not cranking?? Thanks for the suggestions, I’m determined to get to the bottom of this!

---

Well that pretty wild.

I guess look and see if the accessory belts are turning on the front of the motor and then check the timing belt.

I would be very surprised that the flywheel bolts all sheared going to the crank.