Loud grinding noise upon attempted startup.

[Lagon78]

97 ranger 4.0L v6... On occasion, it has difficulty starting. When this is the case, I hear a loud grinding noise. Today it wouldn't start at all though (thank god a friend has a spare car I could drive today). Based on my research, it's likely bad teeth on the flywheel... And it's just when the starter gear hits those bad teeth. It's never not started before though. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm looking for either confirmation of this, or some theory as to what else may be causing it... I need this runningagain by tomorrow.

 

[Snake_K]

Sound quite possible, but could be the Starter drive gear itself.....pull the starter, check it's teeth first..engage it by using a hot battery and jumper cables.....(ground the case with black, hook the red to the starter and tap on positive side of battery see if you hear sound)(also could be bearing in starter) but you may not hear it while not under a load....ie not on truck.....second have a friend use a socket and ratchet and the crankshaft bolt...slowly turn while you visually check flywheel for bad teeth.....Hope this helps...........................................................................................................................................

 

[Lagon78]

Thank you snake_k. I looked into it last night and it is the fly wheel. Regrettably I don't have the time nor the money to put into replacing it. At least now ik what the problem is.

 

[adsm08]

When you do the flywheel you really should replace the starter as well. The starter did that damage, and it will do it again.