This sounds like there are some teeth missing on the flywheel. If the bad spot is positioned over the starter gears, the starter will just spin but if it catches on a good part, it will turn the engine over fine.
Just what the previous answer said. You have some teeth missing on your flywheel. There is probably nothing wrong with any of your starters.
If you have a manual tranny, just put the car in gear and try to push it forward until you fill the flyweel engage with the starter. The car should start then. My 1986 Ford aerostar had the same porblem as stated above and this was an easy solution until I had the time and money to fix it correctly.
Corroded battery terminals, defective battery, or starter.Corroded battery terminals, defective battery, or starter.
What do you mean when you say it doesn't engage? Is the starter spinning but just doesn't catch to spin the engine? IF that's the case it could be as simple as a loose starter or as bad as a damaged flex plate/flywheel. But it would most likely be the starter.
It can be a defective starter assembly that causes this problem. There are two parts to a starter assembly: the starter motor and the starter solenoid. The offending culprit is usually the starter solenoid, and it should be replaced.
sounds like your in the market for a starter.
Assuming the starter motor spins but doesn't engage to turn engine over to start you could have a bad starter drive which is part of the starter assembly or possibly damaged/missing teeth on flywheel ring gear. Depending on year and model vehicle, some starters you can replace just the starter drive otherwise you need to replace the whole starter.
All parts are not created equal sometimes, apparently you just got a defective tensioner, it should still be under warranty.
If your starter works intermittently, it could be due to a weak battery, faulty connections, or a malfunctioning starter motor. A weak battery may not provide enough power to engage the starter, leading to a clicking noise. Corroded or loose battery terminals can also interrupt the electrical flow. Additionally, the starter solenoid may be failing, which can cause inconsistent operation.
Most often it is the starter and not the ignition.
Typically, just about everything except the starter. But then the starter solenoid works off the keyswitch, so the starter won't engage if the fusable like is bad.
if it bolts on the starter assembly you are probably talking about the starter solenoid. basically its what makes the starter engage. if its a sensor that just bolts near the starter it could be anything from a crank position sensor to a knock sensor.
If the starter 'just spins' it is usually because of a faulty starter drive; sometimes called the starter bendix.It can also be caused by a starter that is tired and no longer has the power to 'throw' the drive against the flywheel. In any case you will need to replace the starter.Price out a low-mile used one from a salvage yard vs a rebuilt one from an auto parts store. I hope this helps you. Mark
If the starter just spins and does not engage then you have low battery or a stuck 'bendix' on the starter. -Running hot is a separate problem that may happen for any number of easons.