Car Won't Start and Makes a Horrid Grinding

[Co-Bolt]

Alright, I'm at a dead end here on what to do cause the mechanic I usually have work on my car is busy with family issues. After putting in a new crankshaft and bearings, my car would start and idle for about 10 seconds before dying. Then it would grind (different sounding than it is currently) the next time we tried starting it. The grinding was because the bolt holes on the starter were stripped and widened so it shifted every time I cranked it. The dying was because we took off the GM MAF sensor and one of the resistors was broken off on one side.

So I got a new MAF sensor and a brand new starter (made sure it would fit my exact car before I bought it.) Now when I try to start it, it makes a horrible grinding sound and doesn't crank. What gets me is how all I did to go from starting to not-starting was get a new starter and MAF sensor. I think the engine might be locked up possibly cause I shift it into gear and I can't budge it. Please help, I'm running out of patience. xP

Here is a video of me trying to start it.
[ame=http://youtu.be/1Y5hZzc7lwA]1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST Grinding and Not Starting - YouTube[/ame]

 

[92AWDHX40]

Well i would do a compression test, and turn the crank by hand to see if i will budge if not the problem might be right there, locked up if you hear noisess. Go ahead and try what i suggested.

 

[Co-Bolt]

I can't do a compression test cause it's not cranking. Although, I did put the car into 5th gear and pushed it, the pistons move like they're supposed to so it is turning. I'll try to crank it by hand soon, but that won't fix the problem.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

Sounds like you need to do a better job installing the starter.

 

[Insane20]

Are you shure you flywheel still has teeth on it for the starter to grab? I would look into that or maybe the aftermarket starter needs shims put in between it and the bell housing.

 

[StarFawkes]

Sounds like you need to do a better job installing the starter.

This.

 

[Co-Bolt]

Well I put it on where it goes, tightened it as much as I could then hooked up the wires. I don't see much room for error there. xP
I'll get some shims and try that tomorrow hopefully.
And I would check the flywheel but I've already pulled the engine twice and I'm looking into other possibilities first.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

Ok, I unblocked Java Script on my browser, and watched your video. FYI, your car is cranking.

 

[Co-Bolt]

Ok, I unblocked Java Script on my browser, and watched your video. FYI, your car is cranking.

You're right, I checked and the belts turn when it tries to start. Maybe the starter isn't fully catching or something? This has got me puzzled.

 

[Co-Bolt]

Alright, I took it out, colored the teeth completely purple and put it back in. Surprisingly when I cranked it, it was still grinding but it started and idled for about 10 secs before dying. Then it sounded like it slipped or something the next time I tried to start it and it wouldn't start again. I took out the starter and there is some wear on the upper edges of the teeth as well as some of the marker worn off where it was making contact.

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Any ideas on how to align it properly or something?

 

[awdtalon4451]

Sounds like you need to do a better job installing the starter.

I agree, Ive never had to shim my starter and ive went through 5 or 6 between my Dsm's. I dont think they require them like Chevy or Ford.

 

[awdtalon4451]

Sounds like you need to do a better job installing the starter.

I agree, Ive never had to shim my starter and ive went through 5 or 6 between my Dsm's. I dont think they require them like Chevy or Ford.

Also they have a little wear on the tits but its still making good connection with the flywheel. If its grinding only when turning the key its an alignment issue, if its all the time id start looking elsewhere for the culprit.

 

[Co-Bolt]

I agree, Ive never had to shim my starter and ive went through 5 or 6 between my Dsm's. I dont think they require them like Chevy or Ford.

Also they have a little wear on the tits but its still making good connection with the flywheel. If its grinding only when turning the key its an alignment issue, if its all the time id start looking elsewhere for the culprit.

Yea, I shouldn't have to shim it, says the guys at Nappa. And it only grinds when I'm trying to start it. It seems it is an alignment issue, but I can't quite align it correctly it seems.
And once I do get it started again I'll have to find out why it dies after 10 seconds.

 

[awdtalon4451]

Have you had the starter checked out at AutoZone?

 

[Co-Bolt]

Have you had the starter checked out at AutoZone?

I bought it from AutoZone. And I took it in to Nappa to have it tested, and it works perfectly.

Although, I think I partially fixed it, rotating the starter a tiny bit while I fasten it. It grinds still but it starts. But now after it starts, it idles for about 5-10 seconds before it rapidly slows and dies, and pressing on the throttle doesn't save it. And After a few more grindy starts, all it does now is make a strange high-pitched noise around where the starter is (if not the starter itself.) No start now, and I'll have to mess with it tomorrow. I honestly just want my car towed to a shop and have them fix all my problems, but I just don't have the money.

 

[Co-Bolt]

So I took out my starter today because it stopped cranking and just gave me a high-pitched noise...

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Well now, I checked the flywheel and it's still good.

However, I did have the starter my mechanic salvaged for me that didn't fit, so I took them both apart and rebuilt the newer one (one without the teeth.)

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I'll put it in tomorrow and see how it does; furthermore, I believe the reason why the engine died ~10 secs after starting it is because the cam angle sensor was turned the wrong way around.

 

[Beechnut]

Did you put your flexplate on backwards?

 

[firstdsm2g]

I had the same problem in my Chevy truck I replace the flex plate and it still did it.
I pulled the starter about 20 times still did it well the shaft inside the starter that has the windings on it was striped out so the shaft would grind catch turn motor over slow. Now mind this was a high comp v8 so some times it would just grind like hell I replaced starter and never had a prob till trams went out .

 

[Co-Bolt]

It's a flywheel, and it should be on correctly seeing as the first time my mechanic put it in was correct.
I have my battery on the charger now and I'll test tonight or tomorrow. I did test the starter I rebuilt outside of the engine and it works like a charm.

 

[firstdsm2g]

I wish I had a Vidio of it I'm not saying it wasn't done right but what can happen is the shaft in the stater stays put but the I think they armatures spin and I grinds like its grinding on the flywheel.

 

[Jose303]

I was wondering if you ever fixed this problem?

 

[turbotalon1g]

Same here

 

[fredyvalles1995]

I dont think they sell shims for our startes I looked all over and didnt find any when my starter was grinding so I added washers to the bolts to work as shims and it didnt help.the starter bolts keept getting loose so i pulled the transmission and guess what? I was missing the starter plate dowel pins and two transmission bolts and that was causing the starter and transmission to move out of spec I really think u have an alignment problem.thats my 2cents I hope it helps

 

[paack]

Be kind, he is trying.

Sounds like you need to do a better job installing the starter.

good luck man.