I've been having some starting troubles, for some reason there is this intermittent issue of the starter spinning but not engaging the flywheel. I decided to change out the starter with a new (rebuilt) unit. Worked fine for about a week, then the issue came back. Spinning but no flywheel engagement. So I swapped it out with another new one under warranty, same problem right out of the box this time.
-Tried jumping the terminals directly with a screwdriver and no change. -Tried removing the shim. Doing this caused a lot of grinding noise with starting and the engine did turn a bit. But no proper meshing, only awful grinding.
I inspected the flywheel teeth and there are no significant chips or missing teeth. Everything seems fine... What could be happening? There must be excessive clearance, but how? Any help appreciated.
------------------ My Fiero: 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT, V6, 4-speed manual
The starter is grounded through the engine block. If there is something in the way....dirt....grease..... the power transferred goes way down. Voltage is one thing, but you need Amps too.
When you get a starter( some come with this) or a shim pack the 'round rod', that is supposed to be the correct distance between the starter and flywheel teeth. Not the easiest to use, but the correct way. That is most of the time a shim issue, there are tons of different thickness shims, not just one.
What is odd is that it worked fine for a while with the factory shim. Now it doesn't contact. The shim is maybe a sixteenth of an inch thick. Removing it caused terrible grinding.
------------------ My Fiero: 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT, V6, 4-speed manual
Try thinner or add another. I understand the oddity of it worked before, but now you have to deal with the now. Food for thought, things wear over time.
That may be the best course of action, though my shop instructor mentioned that it's possible that the flywheel and starter pinion gear are mismatched, or that the carquest starter from advance isn't really the correct one (even though it looks the same). Was there more than one type of flywheel for the Fiero trannys? Any variations in tooth count?
------------------ My Fiero: 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT, V6, 4-speed manual
That may be the best course of action, though my shop instructor mentioned that it's possible that the flywheel and starter pinion gear are mismatched, or that the carquest starter from advance isn't really the correct one (even though it looks the same). Was there more than one type of flywheel for the Fiero trannys? Any variations in tooth count?
Yes there is, the 88s have a neutral balanced flywheel, and 85-87 have an external balanced (talking about V6s here) same tooth count though (as far as I know, pretty sure though)
Speaking of wiring/grounding issues make sure your ground strap did not break, (it happens) even try a jumper cable(a good one) between the battery ground and the engine block, you can also ohm the battery neg and the block, should be close to zero. But sounds like a shim issue to me, BTW starters are made different, thus the point of shims, in the "Help" section they have a shim kit (cheap) with all kinds of different sizes, (other wise they wouldn't be needed) Grinds = too close sounds like it spins freely = too far adjust from there
No idea, I have no records from the PO. Tranny's probably gonna have to come out. My shop instructor said welding the ring gear at about six evenly spaced points should solve it, but only if the gear isn't cracked. Will be inspecting it to see.
------------------ My Fiero: 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT, V6, 4-speed manual
