New to the forum, and need a little help...

[vigeh]

I'm new to the forum and need a little help....

2001 running fine; then the tach started jumping, lights got bright, then the motor shut off.... Tried restarting the motor and no go... What happens now is the solenoid sounds like it spinning but the starter will not engage...

Could this be the starter, alternator, or did something else go wrong?

I used a battery jumper and again all you here is the solenoid spinning not engaging the starter.... Your help is most grateful!!!!

Thank you,
Hans

[CREWZIN]

Welcome to the forum.
Are you sure it's just the solenoid spinning and not the starter spinning without engaging the flywheel? Found this in a search............

When I try to start my engine, I hear the starter spinning but the engine isn't cranking. What gives?

You have one of two problems: Either the starter drive on your starter is defective and is not engaging the flywheel to crank the engine, or the flywheel has some broken or damaged teeth that are preventing the starter from engaging.

Starters come in a variety of designs. On some, the solenoid is mounted on top of the starter. When you turn the key, the solenoid routes current to the starter motor and at the same time pulls a lever that slides the drive gear mechanism out so it will engage the flywheel and crank the engine. If the solenoid is weak or damaged, it may not be strong enough to overcome the spring tension that retracts the drive gear. So the starter spins but doesn’t crank the engine.

On other starters, the solenoid is mounted remotely. When the starter motor starts to spin, it ratchets out so the drive gear will engage the flywheel and crank the engine. If the drive mechanism is damaged or hung up, the motor may spin but not crank the engine.

Regardless of what type of starter you have, it will have to come out for further inspection. The drive gear (which is sometimes referred to as a "Bendix drive") should move out when the starter starts to spin. The drive gear usually has a one-way clutch that is supposed to protect the starter against damage if someone keeps cranking the engine once it starts. The gear should turn one way but not the other. If the gear is locked up or turns freely either way, the drive is bad and needs to be replaced. If the drive can’t be replaced separately, you’ll have to replace the entire starter.

[Hooligan]

vigeh, Welcome to the Forum , sorry your first posting has to be asking about a problem.

[vigeh]

Crewzin,

Thank you for the quick response.....If the alternator blew; could something else electrical have gone that would stop the starter from engaging? Something electrical did happen.....My tach, and lights went crazy for a moment, then the engine died....Tried to restart, and now just spinning, not engaging the flywheel. Once again thanks for the support!!!!

Originally Posted by CREWZIN

Welcome to the forum.
Are you sure it's just the solenoid spinning and not the starter spinning without engaging the flywheel? Found this in a search............

When I try to start my engine, I hear the starter spinning but the engine isn't cranking. What gives?

You have one of two problems: Either the starter drive on your starter is defective and is not engaging the flywheel to crank the engine, or the flywheel has some broken or damaged teeth that are preventing the starter from engaging.

Starters come in a variety of designs. On some, the solenoid is mounted on top of the starter. When you turn the key, the solenoid routes current to the starter motor and at the same time pulls a lever that slides the drive gear mechanism out so it will engage the flywheel and crank the engine. If the solenoid is weak or damaged, it may not be strong enough to overcome the spring tension that retracts the drive gear. So the starter spins but doesn’t crank the engine.

On other starters, the solenoid is mounted remotely. When the starter motor starts to spin, it ratchets out so the drive gear will engage the flywheel and crank the engine. If the drive mechanism is damaged or hung up, the motor may spin but not crank the engine.

Regardless of what type of starter you have, it will have to come out for further inspection. The drive gear (which is sometimes referred to as a "Bendix drive") should move out when the starter starts to spin. The drive gear usually has a one-way clutch that is supposed to protect the starter against damage if someone keeps cranking the engine once it starts. The gear should turn one way but not the other. If the gear is locked up or turns freely either way, the drive is bad and needs to be replaced. If the drive can’t be replaced separately, you’ll have to replace the entire starter.

[bobs turbo pt]

welcome to the board !! you might need a starter being it is spinning but not engaging ,

[vigeh]

Could a starter relay, or fuseable link cause this problem?

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by vigeh

Could a starter relay, or fuseable link cause this problem?

Sorry, I can't help anymore. I'm not sure what the fusible link controls but you can check it as it's located in the engine compartment with many other fuses and relays in the black box by the air-filter.

[cleverklutz]

Could it be a bad ground somewhere? That could cause lots of funky stuff in short order. If the starter is getting less power than it should it may just freewheel. You could check your battery voltage and then the voltage to the starter when cranking to see if there are any differences.

Hope you get it figured out,
Ben

[vigeh]

Ben,

Thank you, I'm thinking of running a jumper to the starter bye passing the circuits and see if the bendix will move, before removing the starter.... Does anyone see a problem with trying this? Thanks Gus

Originally Posted by cleverklutz

Could it be a bad ground somewhere? That could cause lots of funky stuff in short order. If the starter is getting less power than it should it may just freewheel. You could check your battery voltage and then the voltage to the starter when cranking to see if there are any differences.

Hope you get it figured out,
Ben