HELP! Car won't start...

[iamadonut]

Hey guys,

I have a '70 coupe w/ a 302 and C4. The car's been running like a champ ever since I got it a few months ago -- until tonight.

I tried starting the car and all you can hear is this whirring sound. Like something spinning really fast. But the engine isn't cranking or anything. Headlights turn on so the battery is OK?

Is my starter shot? How can I diagnose, and is it easy to replace a starter? This is my daily driver so hopefully I can get it sorted out by Monday.
Thank you for ANY and ALL help!!

 

[XStang302x]

If you have a bad vibe problem. Look under the car and make sure the starter isn't hanging off the block because the bolts shook out.

Happened to me once . Damn universal joints

-Frank

 

[Loup-garou]

Hey guys,

I have a '70 coupe w/ a 302 and C4. The car's been running like a champ ever since I got it a few months ago -- until tonight.

I tried starting the car and all you can hear is this whirring sound. Like something spinning really fast. But the engine isn't cranking or anything. Headlights turn on so the battery is OK?

Is my starter shot? How can I diagnose, and is it easy to replace a starter? This is my daily driver so hopefully I can get it sorted out by Monday.
Thank you for ANY and ALL help!!

Yes, it sounds like the starter's toast. The bendix gear isn't popping out to engage the flywheel ring gear. Pop in a rebuilt unit and all should be well.

 

[iamadonut]

Hey guys,

It's definitely the starter. I yanked it out and a bunch of metal pieces fell out as well. One metal piece completely mangled, two little metal rods and a spring. Looks like my car just chewed up and spit out its first starter. :O

Should I change my oil to get rid of any metal still inside? Should I change it before or after I crank it with the new starter?

You guys are AWESOME!!!

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Change it first. You can never be to safe. The last thing you need is for the metal to get on your camshaft and then your whole motor will eat itself up from the inside. Good luck with that man,

 

[67GTFastback]

Yeah, change it right away, then follow up with a "non-routine" change shortly thereafter to flush out the rest. Oil changes are much cheaper than engine rebuilds...good luck.

 

[Loup-garou]

Hey guys,

It's definitely the starter. I yanked it out and a bunch of metal pieces fell out as well. One metal piece completely mangled, two little metal rods and a spring. Looks like my car just chewed up and spit out its first starter. :O

Should I change my oil to get rid of any metal still inside? Should I change it before or after I crank it with the new starter?

You guys are AWESOME!!!

Change your oil if you want, but I don't see how loose bits from the starter can make their way into the oil pan. However, it's still early and I am currently coffee-deprived, so I may not see something obvious. What am I missing here, guys?

Anyone?
.
.
.
.
Anyone?
.
.
.
Bueller?

 

[67GTA-FB429]

I am with the werewolf...how would starter bits get into the oil?

If you are really worried about it make sure you get a magnetic pan plug and add it to your pan during your next oil change.

 

[monk302]

If you can, put in a starter from a newer 5.0 Mustang. They are much smaller and really easy to put in when you have headers compared to the others. Mine was about $100 and required a bit of wiring modification to work but I love it.

 

[67GTFastback]

After a few cold pops last night, changing the oil sounded like a good idea, but now I wouldn't worry about it, as pointed out by the last two posts. The starter bits have no way to get into the engine, the starter simply cranks on the flywheel.

 

[mustang70]

Make sure you give your flywheel a good looking over. Some of that metal might be from the teeth on it.

 

[iamadonut]

Hey guys,

Just got finished installing the new starter, but there's still a problem. I crank the engine and it starts fine, but then i gave it a rev and I hear the starter disintegrating, like metal pieces getting chewed up. I shut the car off and check the starter and there's smoke coming out of it.

Any ideas?? I haven't pulled the new starter yet but I'm positive it's chewed up.

Please help!

 

[iamadonut]

Is my starter solenoid shot? How can I test this?

 

[67GTA-FB429]

solenoid is toast.

you did just test it.

get a new one. and get the magnetic oil pan plug, it makes a great safety addition to your motor.

 

[iamadonut]

That was an expensive test.
Alright, Off to get a new solenoid. And a new $#%@# starter.

Where can I pick up one of those magnetic oil pan plugs? My local Kragen and Autozones dont have em...

Thanks guys!
Ian

 

[iamadonut]

AAARRRGH!!! Car still won't work right...

I popped in another starter and a new starter solenoid. I turn my key and nothing...i hear a click. Then all of a sudden the car starts on its own and it wont shut off. I run out and disconnect the negative battery cable to stop the engine.

I'm not exactly sure what happened next, but i either dropped the neg cable onto the neg post or the pos. cable onto the pos. post, and the car started on its own.

What's going on here?? I really have no idea what to do next, but the idea of having to install another starter is making me feel sick.

 

[none67]

funny, and that really sucks, majorly.

was your key in ACC or the ON spot when it started by itself?

 

[BoostedmaxPSI]

I'm not exactly sure what happened next, but i either dropped the neg cable onto the neg post or the pos. cable onto the pos. post, and the car started on its own.

I can only assume that your talking about the starter solenoid with the above quote. Go back and check your wiring. Might be helpful to get a shop manual for your ride.

On your solenoid the post closest to the battery should be your POS post and post on the opposite site will be for NEG. The two smaller posts with the press in style connections with "S" and "I", "S" is for the red wire and the "I" is for the black wire.

Good luck to you

 

[iamadonut]

I can only assume that your talking about the starter solenoid with the above quote. Go back and check your wiring. Might be helpful to get a shop manual for your ride.

I was actually talking about the battery. I disconnected the pos. cable from the battery first and then I disconnected the neg. cable from the battery, which killed the engine.

I think I reconnected the pos cable to the battery and then accidentally touched the neg cable to the battery, which is when the car started by itself (no key in the ignition)

I'll doublecheck the I and S wires tomorrow.

On my solenoid the post closest to the battery is connected to the pos terminal and the post furthest from the battery is connected to the starter. Am I missing something here?


When the car turned on I'm not sure which position my key was at. I was a little panicked and surprised at that point.

Thanks for your help guys...
Keep those tips coming!!

 

[Ozsum2]

I can only assume that your talking about the starter solenoid with the above quote. Go back and check your wiring. Might be helpful to get a shop manual for your ride.

I was actually talking about the battery. I disconnected the pos. cable from the battery first and then I disconnected the neg. cable from the battery, which killed the engine.

I think I reconnected the pos cable to the battery and then accidentally touched the neg cable to the battery, which is when the car started by itself (no key in the ignition)

I'll doublecheck the I and S wires tomorrow.

On my solenoid the post closest to the battery is connected to the pos terminal and the post furthest from the battery is connected to the starter. Am I missing something here?


When the car turned on I'm not sure which position my key was at. I was a little panicked and surprised at that point.

Thanks for your help guys...
Keep those tips coming!!

No, you are not. The former poster miss quoted. The neg goes to a ground. The farthest post away from the battery is also positive when the key is on. NOT negative.