An intermittent problem occurs while starting. The starter gear does not fully mesh with the flywheel gear and creates terrible grating noise. I presume the starter gear does not fully jump into the flywheel gears. On second or third attempt the gears mesh and car starts quickly. I wonder if the electrical contact in the ignition switch might be the problem before I rip out the starter and lubricate its starter gear action. Thank you, Seamus J. Wilson
91 4 cyl starter problem
Jun 26, 2003
4 Replies
gear teeth on the starter pinion gear were never bevelelled to allow easy meshing with the flywheel teeth. Over time, the harder pinion teeth make a mess of the softer flywheel teeth - only solution -new flywheel and proper pinion gear on starter.
Allan
It maybe the flywheel and/or starter pinion teeth worn, but is more likely to be the one-way cluch slipping in the starter itself. These are replaced with the pinion/drive and are not very expensive.
Its impossible to check the clutch by hand as the amount of torque required to make it slip is great.
Jason
I am not a technician, but our 88 Camry experienced the problem.....I let it go until my wife couldn't take it anymore.....it was taking up to 10 times to start it.
Also, there is a TSB on the problem: ENG025 FEB 89 Starter - Ring Gear Noise
The fix for our 1988 4 cyl was starter ring gear/ flywheel at about $700....ouch.
--- Curtis Newton snipped-for-privacy@remove-me.akaMail.com
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