Starter not engaging sound when turning the car over

havlc2u · 02-11-2012, 07:44 PM

Just wondering if there could be anything else besides the starter. I
drove the car to the store about 3 miles and got on it a little bit. Got back home and was in the drive way. I then started it to back out of the driveway I got on it a little bit the car died went to refire and the starter would not engage can you guys thing of what else would cause it to not engage or would make the same sound as if the starter was not engaging.

5150DSM · 02-11-2012, 09:14 PM

Be careful, when a DSM shuts off and won't restart, that could be the beginning of bad things.

Is the starter not engaging or is it not able to turn the motor? I would see if you can turn the motor by hand, make sure the cams are turning with the crank.

havlc2u · 02-12-2012, 03:20 AM

Well it makes the sound that the starter is not engaging almost like a grind. I was thinking about trying to push start to determine if there could be something else wrong.

5150DSM · 02-12-2012, 08:55 AM

I would try to turn the motor by hand first. If there is more going on, you don't want to exacerbate the potential damage. If it turns freely by hand, then move on to the push starting.

TSi Kid · 02-12-2012, 08:57 AM

I would just pull the starter and have it tested first. It takes like 5min to pull it..

5150DSM · 02-12-2012, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSi Kid

I would just pull the starter and have it tested first. It takes like 5min to pull it..

And turning the motor by hand takes less than that. Bench testing the starter only answers part of the question. Why did the vehicle shut off? If the TB broke and there was contact, then the starter will just grind away at the flywheel, sounding like a bad starter, when it actually cannot turn the motor.

TSi Kid · 02-12-2012, 09:24 AM

Because if the starter's bad then you've just found your problem..

And it's more than likely the starter crapped out as well.

WickedBlk95GSX · 02-12-2012, 09:35 AM

Almost sounds like you locked it up

havlc2u · 02-12-2012, 10:03 AM

See i am scared that it is the lock up but I never pushed it actually that hard maybe 3500 rpms
It almost sounds like a flat spot on the flywheel is what it reminds me of. With a lockup wouldn't it of came to like a sudden stop.

.If a lockup whats the most common failure point to cause the lockup?
.If I can turn the crank by hand that means it is either the starter or the flywheel correct?

Thanks for all the input I will test it later when I get home from work and let yu guys know what is happening.

Thanks again

Black95awd · 02-12-2012, 10:08 AM

Any chance a starter bolt backed out? grab the starter and see if it's loose.

havlc2u · 02-12-2012, 10:11 AM

Black95 Never through of that the engine only has about 800 miles I have checked alot of bolts but had no clue where the starter was until lastnight. I will for sure check it out.

TSi Kid · 02-12-2012, 10:18 AM

You don't know where the starter is and you're trying to diagnose your car..?

Black95awd · 02-12-2012, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by havlc2u

Black95 Never through of that the engine only has about 800 miles I have checked alot of bolts but had no clue where the starter was until lastnight. I will for sure check it out.

Not a definite solution, but certainly would be an easy fix.

havlc2u · 02-12-2012, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSi Kid

You don't know where the starter is and you're trying to diagnose your car..?

I have worked on engines for years just never one of these. I knew about where it was but that was it. Until I looked in the book. So I guess you can say kind of.

WickedBlk95GSX · 02-13-2012, 08:35 PM

When my 420a locked up it stumbled a little bit then shut down, tried to start it back up and it acted like a dead battery.........nothing.

WickedBlk95GSX · 02-13-2012, 08:37 PM

I hope that's not it though, just answering your question.

havlc2u · 02-14-2012, 02:14 AM

Yeah I can't turn it by hand I am pretty sure it is locked up.
Just trying to get a plan of action. I have about $3000 to rebuild.
Anyone have any suggestions?

92gvr488 · 02-14-2012, 06:03 AM

Buy a 4g63 car...

havlc2u · 02-14-2012, 08:24 AM

I have a 1st gen engine in my 99 GS-T
I plan to use the good parts I have and
just replace the junk or broken ones. But I will more than likely do the rebuild myself
since this one only had 800 miles on it and I don't know what happen in the first 700 miles.
Since I just bought the car.

TAL0NTSi · 02-14-2012, 08:43 AM

First, figure out exactly whats causing it not to rotate. It could be something small, but I recently ran into a situation where my intake cam seized in my head in chewed up the cam journals, requiring me to buy a new head.

havlc2u · 02-14-2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAL0NTSi

First, figure out exactly whats causing it not to rotate. It could be something small, but I recently ran into a situation where my intake cam seized in my head in chewed up the cam journals, requiring me to buy a new head.

Working on that currently I am going to go remove the starter and the then I am going to try and see if I can turn the flywheel at all. I was also told that it could be the clutch stuck and that would make it where I can't turn the crank by hand. thanks everyone for all the help.

muddfisher85 · 02-14-2012, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 92gvr488

Buy a 4g63 car...

He has a 4g63 car !

Just get a 6 bolt and swap it out. Forget the 7 bolt early and just move on before you have another issue with one. Best mod you can do is a 6 bolt swap, turbo upgrade and dsmlink to a stock 2g dsm but thats just my opinion. Just saw your profile said 1st gen engine swap was it a 6 bolt?