North American Turbocoupe Organization



Starter or switch-or?
LorainO88 Offline
Member
#1
Good Afternoon. Back again after a long 3 week absence. Ha. Here is my predicament. This morning. Jump in the TC for a day of errands. All is great until about 2 hours of short trips. I turn the key. The car fires up. But the starter(I guess the starter) continues to "scream" after the engine starts. The turnover has always sounded weak. I heard a shrill continued "whining." This was a metal on metal sound. I throttled the engine for about 3 seconds 2 or 3 times and it went away. All starts after we're smooth-short of the weak turnover usual sound. BTW. I always turn the switch to on and let the pump prime the injection system before I fire it off. Any insight?
WRBjr
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#2
Sounds like the starter gear is hanging up on the flywheel ring gear. It may be that a spring in the starter is weak/broken or the starter gear is chewed up and not disengaging the flywheel ( not my first choice, but you have to remove the starter to check any of this stuff. Most parts stores can check them. If you need one, don't buy on price only, you get what you pay for. NAPA makes 2 levels and I recommend the top level based on experience. If a new one sounds weak then you need to take a look at your battery and starter cables for corrosion. If you see ANY corrosion in the ends(s) of the cable, replace it.
Pete Dunham


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BogusSVO Offline
Member
#3
also do not count out the starter solenoid, they can get to a point that they stay on, and can keep the starter engaged to the flywheel
Owns more Turbo FORDS than the law should allow....and still getting more

85 TC going under the knife
84 Turbo ranger --($800.00 ebay) Redneck work truck
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anasazi4st Offline
Senior Member
#4
Yeah I had this issue at one point...I had to "shim" the starter, i.e. put shims (washers) between the starter and bellhousing, because the pinion gear was catching on the flywheel ring gear (discovered after testing it).

It soon developed that there was another issue causing the problem (bellhousing misalignment). But installing washers (at least temporarily) fixed my problem.
Another proud dues-paying member.

1987 Turbo Coupe w/T5OD, 8.8 axle, grey smoke; most options. Got it in 1991 with 41K miles: 3 turbos, 2 heater cores, 3 T5OD full rebuilds, 6 clutches, 1 head gasket, 2 Teves II ABS units, etc. later....
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LorainO88 Offline
Member
#5
Thank you. I talked to the guy that does my work. He says it is most likely the starter. Also(he is old school)it may not ever happen again. Keep driving it he says. Is that good advice? I've not had the problem but one time. Advice? I've always heard-if it happens once-bet it will happen again and get worse. Yes or no?
WRBjr
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LorainO88 Offline
Member
#6
Thank you. I talked to the guy that does my work. He says it is most likely the starter. Also(he is old school)it may not ever happen again. Keep driving it he says. Is that good advice? I've not had the problem but one time. Advice? I've always heard-if it happens once-bet it will happen again and get worse. Yes or no?
WRBjr
Reply

LorainO88 Offline
Member
#7
Thank you. I talked to the guy that does my work. He says it is most likely the starter. Also(he is old school)it may not ever happen again. Keep driving it he says. Is that good advice? I've not had the problem but one time. Advice? I've always heard-if it happens once-bet it will happen again and get worse. Yes or no?
WRBjr
Reply

Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#8
If you do replace the starter be sure to use a high quality part, not the "spray can rebuilt" units from places like Auto Zone. I have had good luck with NAPA's "best" (= most expensive) units.

If it were my car, I would at least pull the starter (takes all of 10 minutes) and inspect the drive gear and ring gear, check the brushes, etc, and then make a decision as to rebuild the current starter or replace it with a new or high quality rebuild.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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