4.0L OHV Soul crushed and seeking advice on starting problems

[TacoBelleGirl]

Hello Everyone!

I am visiting this thread from PHX. I am very glad I have come across this forum.

I am having the exact same starter problem - same noise as well.

Welcome to TRS! Sorry it's under the same situation as me:/

So now I am 4 new starters and 2 new flywheels in and still have the same issue. Since I have replaced these parts so many times, I feel I can rule out Quality Control Problems.

I put 3 new starters into my truck before I bought a used one and found it had a different bendix gear on it than what the part stores were selling me. (I bought all 3 from different places too btw)
Reviews for starters at the part stores complain about having to go through a bunch of them before getting good ones that don't destroy the flywheel.

Imo go to a junk yard and pull a starter. Compare it to what you have.. it might be different. If it is, I'd get the junk yard one rebuilt and try it. Ideally don't put more wear on the flywheel in the meantime. I'm trying to keep my fingers crossed for myself

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

@SenorNoob ,
Thank you for bring up Spacers.

I too have seen spacers between the starter and where it monts to.
However I've seen spacers on GM products more than anything else.

@TacoBelleGirl ,
Says that she thinks the starter Bendix is not engaging with the flywheel/flexplate and not getting enough contact with the flywheel/flexplate because the starter is not going in place far enough in, to contact the firewheel/flexplate.
At least that's how I understood what she wrote.

@redranger_redranger ,
From what you've posted I believe you're new to TheRangerStation family.

So welcome to the family.

From what all I've read today and other experience in the past here's my quandary.

What if #tacobellegril is right and the starter is not going in far enough which is the opposite of needing a spacer put on it.

So with that said what if someone was to take an angle grinder and grind some of the mounting spots on the nose of the starter and makes it so it will slide into the hole farther and therefore get better contact with the flywheel/flexplate?

Looking forward to everyones thoughts.

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

Got to go for now I will check back in later.

 

[bobbywalter]

I've seen spacers between flywheels/flexplates and the crank before. Wonder what other effects that would have?

There are shims in some cases. There is no 100 on that in terms of why.

Not starter shims....actual shims between crank and flywheel.

 

[bobbywalter]

Hello Everyone!

I am visiting this thread from PHX. I am very glad I have come across this forum.

I am having the exact same starter problem - same noise as well. For a little background. I was on a trail one day a year ago and my starter fell out(bolts were not tight). I reinstalled the starter and that is when I first noticed the noise. I of course just thought that the banging around the the starter had caused damage to it, so I replaced the starter and the noise persisted. I dropped the transmission and replaced the flywheel. New Starter, New flywheel - Same noise then I warrenty'd and replaced the starter for a 2nd time - same noise. I lived with the noise for another couple months as the truck still started and I gave up. After more investigation I determined that the starter is not close enough to the flywheel. Of course this puzzled me as there is no way to adjust it. After driving it more another 6ish months, the truck made an even worse grinding noise and then wouldn't start at all. I gave in and brought it to the shop I go to when I can't solve a problem. He replaced the flywheel again along with trying out 2 brand new starters - same noise. He gave it back and said he didn't know what could be causing it. I looked at the flywheel that he took off and it has so much life left in it as it appears the starter is only meshing with about 20 percent of the gear.

So now I am 4 new starters and 2 new flywheels in and still have the same issue. Since I have replaced these parts so many times, I feel I can rule out Quality Control Problems.

I don't know the fix, but I am fairly confident that the problem is due to the fact that the starter is not close enough to the flywheel gear.

Anyways, I am interested in finding a solution to this once and for all, I have seen a few other people on the interweb with the same issue, but no one seems to have found a solution.


One thing that I read earlier in the chat was to try the automatic starter. I am interested in trying it, but what is the theory behind why this would even work?

The picture I posted was a result of understanding every starter combo with every single part involved.

The bolt on of a automatic starter would require several of the the actual starter spacers or a custom 1/4 in thick unit...never a good idea ..and likely flywheel shims. The nose protrusion within the casting is the only difference in starter parts manual to automatic.... Just bolting in the automatic starter has it engaged at rest in the normal position...and will strip it the opposite way.

I think there is a mixup on the aftermarket side with the pinion requirements but the place I was dealing with does not want any data from them claimed on public forums .. This was not cool but what it is.

From here ...

what I have posted earlier in the thread is the actual shape of things

.. what I will do next is refit the ring gear 2 to 2.5 mm closer to the starter.

If that works then just buy a ring gear and sweat it on the flywheel you just stripped