Well I finally got to the point im trying to start the car and when i turn the ignition switch the starter just spins but isnt turning the engine over. I have one of those mini starters. What could cause this? I figure the teeth are probably not matched up to the flywheel but how can you tell? itss a brand new starter. any helps apprecited.
Sounds like the drive gear is not engaging the ring gear. I don't know much about those mini-starters. Also, which engine are you using? (Y-block or SBF?) You may also check to see if your starter is wired properly to the ign. switch and starter relay. Just some thoughts. Anyone else have any ideas?
If the teeth aren't meshing with the flywheel, you'd hear an expensive grinding sound. Sounds like the starter isn't engaging the flywheel at all. You may have to pull the starter and test it on the bench. When you put power to it and it spins, the starter gear should fly out to the end of the housing. if it doesn't, you've got a bad starter bendix. If it does, you're probably mismatched between the flywheel and the starter regarding housing to flywheel distance.
how did you hook the wires up? on the mini starter there is 2 ways to hook it up.the main big stud run a battery cable straight to it and the small terminal i caall the triger wire from the ignition switch. or jump the triger terminal to the big main stud. and then a main heavy gauge wire to a fender mounted solenoid. if you have it wired where the big stud on the starter mounted solenoid that already has a wire coming off of it into the starter body is where you put the starter cable and nothing to the triger terminal. you will just spin the motor with no engaging of the drive
Refer to the diagram in post #10 http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=45110 there is a jumper wire that came with your starter,right?
Thanks for the info guys, I believe streetdreams was right, I measured the nose cone on the new mini starter and then measured the original starter and they are different. The mini starter is about 3/4" shorter where the gear would be fully extended than the original starter so I figure the gear just cant reach the flywheel. After some lifting the engine and maneuvering it around I was able to get the old starter in and mounted so I guess I'm going to stay with that one, I didnt think it would clear the header but it does and turns the engine over so its all good. I do have another problem tho....I cant seem to get fuel to pump from the fuel pump....I'm pretty sure I have the hoses on the correct places on the fuel pump but not really sure because it wasnt mounted on the engine when i bought it from fordsbyjay. It doesnt show a "In" or "Out" on the pump so I'm just guessing really. I tried swapping the hoses around but still nothing so I'm thinking maybe it is a bad fuel pump but I would think it would have been giving Jason problems and it wasnt i dont think. I did however get the Rebel wiring Kit Installed and all the lights,turn signals etc... are working so I'm happy about that it was the part I was worried about the most. If I can get Gas to the carb, Driveshaft made,and exhaust installed it will be on the road (And Boy will I be relieved!) I think I started too many upgrades at once so its been a long nerve racking experience but I sure have learned alot more about cars,clutch's and circuitry than I thought I would..Thanks to you guys. sorry post is so long
The difference in mini-starter nose length is one is for C4's & AOD's the other is for stick shifts,sounds like you got the wrong part number.
DB part numbers:3205 is C4 & AOD 3223 is manual transmission look at the number on the casting to see if it matches the part# on the box.
What engine do you have ? remember Y block the teeth engage the flywheel from behind while SBF engage from the front ... I agree with streetdreams and Jeff this was just another thought .
It doesnt have any numbers stamped on it anywhere. Must really be from way back in the hills of Japan. I have a SBF 4t6ford. I am going to just use the old one it is working ok so i guess no need to change that at this time. I did find out the Fuel pump was bad so i got another one and it ran for about 10 seconds and now all it will do is turn over....I think i lost spark somehow. Is there a way to test a coil by yourself? My Father whom has been helping when he has time hold the other side of bolts and such is out of town for the weekend so I'm trying to get this thing started by myself.I would hold a spark plug wire next to a spark plug while turning the engine over but being by myself i cant do both at the same time...is there another way? Thanks Guys
Lisle makes a remote starter you connect to the starter solenoid. Regular parts stores usually have them. Or just take a momentary switch with some wire and a couple of alligator clamps and make your own. Lisle 20750
I found out it wasnt the Coil it was the choke wasnt opening up. I just ran a wire fromm the positive side of battery to the starter relay and that way i could turn the engine over while looking for a spark from the #1 plug wire. thanks for the help guys
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