Starter/flywheel issues

[JakesSweetTalon]

Ok guys i read what you all put on some of the other threads about the spacer and the solenoid, i'm having the same issue i have a good battery and its trying to crank but its not fully engaging and then its not fully disengaging either with a brand new starter that i just bought today i tried to just put a couple of washers in where the bolts are to space out the starter from the flywheel and it didnt change anything the only thing i have left to try is the starter solenoid or put an actual plate in there, can someone help me find the starter solenoid and if i missed a thread with the answer i apologize this engine is freshly rebuilt ground up and i've put 4 years and 6000 into this car so any help is greatly appreciated...sorry for long post

 

[PAPYGSX]

The starter solenoid is on the starter. It is the smaller cylinder on top of the starter. If you replaced the starter with the proper one it should work. DSM's have never had any kind of shim for the starter. You say you just installed the engine? The only shim forsay is the plate that goes between the engine and tranny. You also say that the starter is not engaging or disingaging. Do you mean that the starter is spinning and not touching the flywheel? If so make sure you installed the correct flywheel. there is 2 different flywheel sizes. 10 inch for AWD and 11in for FWD.

 

[JakesSweetTalon]

Yes thats the plate i'm referring to and it spins and partially engages towards the flywheel but it doesnt make full contact and its a brand new starter for sure its the correct one and we jump tested it and it checks out so my only answer is the plate you mentioned i heard it doesnt matter if its there or not but i've heard you have to have it for it to work

 

[rhodes2010]

I feel qualified to comment on this particular thing as I just last week replaced:
1. Flywheel - 106 tooth - AWD - 10 inch or so. (10.75).
2. Starter
3. Starter plate between the engine and transmission.

My original starter and flywheel were ok, but the starter plate was wrong for my car.
On a FWD car the starter plate should be for the larger flywheel.

If you have the smaller AWD flywheel that would cause your problem if the FWD starter plate was in there.

Starters are the same, and I do agree that the whole idea of shims or spacing does not exist in these cars. The cars are designed with zero tolerence/adjustment to most parts.
Amazing, true, and pretty cool.

We never imagined that someone had replaced our engine, but they did,
and they used the wrong starter plate.

You must be sure that you have the correct flywheel. 110 teeth for FWD
and 106 teeth for AWD. And you really should have a starter plate in there. They only cost 15 to 20 brand new and they keep the starter
properly placed.

Spacing the starter is not a good idea.

 

[JakesSweetTalon]

The flywheel is correct its the stock one from the car teeth are good and i just got a brand new starter all i'm missing is the plate, but i've been told that it doesnt matter to have that at the same time ppl told me you HAVE to have it no matter what, its gotta be that plate ### thats all i'm missing everything else checks out, thanks for the help