Starter problems...any advise would be awesome!

[larr630]

Hi to all. I have a 94 4.3L v6 mercruiser. The other day I went to start the motor on earmuffs. It rolled over for about a half turn then this god awfull noise came from the motor/starter. I turned the key again after a few minutes and it turned over, then stopped with this awful noise coming from the starter. Then it just made this screeching noise everytime i tried to start the motor. So I next day aired in another starter-supposedly brand new. I installed it and it does basically the same thing but more than the old one. If I turn the motor by hand with a rachet on the harmonic balance/crank pulley a few spots, then the started wil engage momentarily then start the screeching noise. I removed the starter, checked the flywheel teeth and noticed wear on the the flywheel teeth. But why all of a sudden would this happen? Could it be hydro-lock? Water in the cylinders for some reason. By the way, it did turn over and run fine at idle for about 20 minutes before I shut it down. But I can't get it started again unless i manually turn the flywheel to a different spot. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any ideas!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Starter problems...any advise would be awesome!

Pretty hard to diagnose anything when the term "god awful noise" is used. Is the god awful noise different than the "screeching" noise?
A weak battery can prevent the solenoid from throwing the bendix fully inteo the flywheel. So step one would be to charge the battery. And while that is going on, why not check the condition of the battery cables (on both ends) to make sure they are clean and tight. It may be that the original starter and the replacement have no been properly shimmed when installed.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Starter problems...any advise would be awesome!

Your in the outboard section!!
But try this! Remove the plugs and see if there is any water??

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Starter problems...any advise would be awesome!

The engine isn't hydrolocked, He can turn it via the crank pulley.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Starter problems...any advise would be awesome!

There are no shims.Check the teeth on the flywheel I'll bet there worn or broken off.

 

[larr630]

Re: Starter problems...any advise would be awesome!

Pretty hard to diagnose anything when the term "god awful noise" is used. Is the god awful noise different than the "screeching" noise?
A weak battery can prevent the solenoid from throwing the bendix fully inteo the flywheel. So step one would be to charge the battery. And while that is going on, why not check the condition of the battery cables (on both ends) to make sure they are clean and tight. It may be that the original starter and the replacement have no been properly shimmed when installed.

Thanks for the advise. I was wondering about he battery. Batt 1 has plenty of juice. I looked at the original starter. The bendix was torn up- old I guess. After completely rotating the flywheel around and checking the teeth, some are worn a bit. None are missing. I did not pay attention when removing the old starter to see if it was shimmed. I am assuming this may be the case. I examined the new starter and it seems like the casing was almost an 1/8" taller. So I ground that down where the bolts go thru so it would be the same as the old. I also enlarged the holes so I can move the starter closer to the block a hair so the teeth would engage. I will try that. The "god awful noise" was a roaring when the starter cranks.......but I think that is the gear-reduction of the starter because the old one did the same thing. Thanks for the advise

 

[Bondo]

Re: Starter problems...any advise would be awesome!

I examined the new starter and it seems like the casing was almost an 1/8" taller. So I ground that down where the bolts go thru so it would be the same as the old. I also enlarged the holes so I can move the starter closer to the block a hair so the teeth would engage. I will try that.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... You've just Destroyed yer new starter....

You need to pull the motor, pull the flywheel, knock the ring gear off, 'n reinstall it, flipped over to renew the teeth...

Then put everything back together, with another New starter that ain't been ground off, 'n wallowed out...

 

[ericp501]

Re: Starter problems...any advise would be awesome!

check the starter mounting area on the engine block for a hairline crack.. My engine block actually broke on the outter starter bolt area. I'd get the same thing, when you try to start it the starter engages the flywheel but the torque and pressure pushes out on the starter. The crack gives it just enough room to push out and miss the flywheel teeth. This is uncommon, but does happen. IF this is what happen you can, 1 get a new block, 2 get it welded, 3 used threaded rod as a brace, which is what I have but not recommended. Check my threads, you'll see one I started on this.