1999 ford ranger new starter grinding

[99rangerrick]

99 ford ranger with 89,000 miles. Was getting a little bit of grinding from original starter so decided to replace it.

Installed new starter and i'm getting some bad grinding. Went back to NAPA and got another one...same thing. I'm at a loss as to what the heck is going on. I understand these 2.5 motors do not use shims? So what the heck could have gone wrong here. Got all 3 bolts tight and the 2 wires hooked up to the proper studs....can't figure out what I could have done to get this issue.

Truck is my only ride and the life line to life....yikes!!!!

 

[Mazda]

You probably have a bad flywheel!!

 

[Ledphoot]

flywheel teeth are chewed up.

 

[99rangerrick]

Lot of work to get to a fly wheel........another bump in the road of life. Low income, busted knuckle garage mechanic here I go....

 

[huh?]

Lot of work to get to a fly wheel........

maybe start off by pulling the starter and taking a peek through the hole for a preliminary view?

also, i had to go on o'reilly's website last night and took a look at the starter for your application and it showed three. a motorcraft and two others. in the descriptions for them, the motorcraft didn't mention anything about shims but the other two listed shims as coming with the starter.(this is just info i read on the site, i couldn't even begin to speculate if it might make a difference for you)

Low income, busted knuckle garage mechanic here I go....

some situations make life that much more "interesting".

 

[Road Angels]

grinding

2.5 starters have a litte bit of wiggle room when all three bolts are about finger tight, you need to first be sure that the surface of both the starter and tin plate and block that it attachs to are free from defects and clean, then just as you are tighting the bolts pull the start out away from the ring gear, besure and tighten the bolts down even and to specs, some of them from the factory had poor clearance between the ring gear and and starter drive gear to tight, this only applies it your ring gear is still in useable shape, the back of the block on some 2.5 and 4.6's are machined like crap, I had to grind the bolt shoulders on my 4.6 to get the proper cleance

 

[99rangerrick]

Road Angels....I noticed that wiggle room you talk about. So just as i'm ready to tighten I should move the slack away from the flywheel gear..correct??

 

[Road Angels]

Yes

 

[99rangerrick]

Thanks much to everyone on this job. I'll be sure to let you all know how this thing turn out. Raining cats and dogs here the next couple days..... so i'll just let this thing sit until I install my original factory NAPA rebuilt starter. Been riding my motorcycle in the pouring rain the last 2 days, sure tired of getting all geared up. You sure learn fast how important a truck can be. Miss my baby.

 

[99rangerrick]

Thanks again to all. As said I sent my stock OEM starter to NAPA for rebuild after two new starters sourced with NAPA would grind when installed. Stock starter works great. Looks like those new starters NAPA is selling have some type of issue. Lot of junk from China these days, they can't get the tolerance correct with parts. SUCKS. I'm lucky it didn't tear the teeth off the flywheel gear, that would have been a big job replacing that.

Again thanks to all and hope to help others by returning help.

Rick, Rocklin, Cal.

 

[Kowboy]

Man that truly BITES! That is why we try to buy OEM parts when possible. Thanks for the tip on getting one rebuilt. Much cheaper here in Va to gets those type of parts rebuilt. We have a few shops here that do that. Down time is the issue most times though.

 

[Andy D]

You were smart to hang on the original starter. Whenever I buy a " rebuilt" part, I hang onto the take out until I'm sure the new one works.