starter randomly not engaging

pudman · Feb 22, 2009

i installed a mini starter about 8 months ago...everything good. a month ago it would start not engaging at random. it may not do it for a day or two, or it will do it all day. it seems if i turn the key to run, and wait a few seconds before starting, it seems to work. but that way is only 75 %. after 2 or 3 attempts it works fine. is there something that needs to be greased?

1fast95stang · Feb 22, 2009

What temps are you trying to start the car. Im not sure where you live but if its cold like below 10 and there is any water that got in it. It can cause the starter to not work, unthaw and its fine. But if thats not the case most likely you will need to replace it. The solenoid is most likely not engaging.

pudman · Feb 22, 2009

i live in so. cal so temp is not an issue. i guess i need to clarify a bit better. it engages, but not all the way. i get the gear grinding sound. not a free wheeling sound. so the next thing... is there maybe an alignment thing going on? or something loose maybe? bottom line the solenoid is engaging

93 LX · Feb 22, 2009

did you move the HOT to the starter to the hot side of the solinoid? When i did mine I just got a solinoid for a 93 stang which is more of less a connection point and less of a solinoid. Never a problem for 9 years...

pudman · Feb 22, 2009

i've got both the 4 awg wire and the 10awg wire hooked up per the attachment

93 LX · Feb 22, 2009

I guess I am not reading it right. It looks like you have a 4ga and 10ga going to the starter right? If his is the case you need to move the 4 ga to the side the battery is on.

pudman · Feb 22, 2009

you're right. i've got it like you say. guess i better preview my post first.
so sorry. now that i'm going in the right direction any other clues?

93 LX · Feb 23, 2009

if the hot for the starter is on the hot battery side make sure the 10 ga cable isnt damaged or burned and is tight onthe starter and solinoid. You could have a bad solinoid too. Get one for a 92-93 Stang since they are not regular solinoids... more or less of a simple switch.

warriorpluto · Feb 24, 2009

dude you ever get that fixed?

Lawbreaker5.0 · Feb 24, 2009

Maybe the teeth on the flywheel are worn on some spots and its not catching? just throwing that out there. i've seen it on front wheel drive cars but not any mustangs...yet

ChaosXIW · Feb 24, 2009

sounds like a busted tooth if its engaging randomly. try turning the ignition a couple times in succession. if its not engaging immediately but suddenly catches after a couple clicks, its likely a tooth. sometimes if the shims aren't installed just right a tooth will catch and break. if its a new starter then the solenoid wouldn't be a culprit unless its defective. but its obviously worth looking at too.

ChaosXIW · Feb 24, 2009

had that problem with a RWD Jeep. shim on the starter was off a little and a tooth broke. that's why the tooth is my first thought. what you described is exactly what was going on with the jeep

pudman · Feb 24, 2009

ChaosXIW said:
had that problem with a RWD Jeep. shim on the starter was off a little and a tooth broke. that's why the tooth is my first thought. what you described is exactly what was going on with the jeep

i assume the tooth is on the starter? and what are these "shims"? i didn't install the starter and am not familiar with them. if these shims were off, wouldn't this problem have started from the beginning? and of course now it has been working perfect

pudman · Mar 3, 2009

93 LX said:
if the hot for the starter is on the hot battery side make sure the 10 ga cable isnt damaged or burned and is tight onthe starter and solinoid. You could have a bad solinoid too. Get one for a 92-93 Stang since they are not regular solinoids... more or less of a simple switch.

got it fixed warriorpluto.. today it was totally dead. 93 lx you guessed it. not only did the trigger wire come off the starter, the wire had been rubbing on the oil pan and had rubbed the insulation off. thankx everyone for the help

warriorpluto · Mar 3, 2009

glad you got it fixed. i never had any engine trouble with my car. just that damned starter crap.

starter randomly not engaging

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