I have a 97 2.2 cavalier, and over the last couple of months it's been getting hard are hard to start.
I did some searching on the forum and was not able to find a similar problem/solution.
The symptoms are...
1) the car starts about 2 out of 8 times and is getting worst.
2)When I attempt to start the car, I hear what I can only describe as a high speed buzzing sound. I assume the buzzing sound is the stater motor spinning when it's not engaged to the fly wheel. I replaced the solenoid assuming that it was failing to engage the starter motor to the fly wheel. After replacement the problem continued.
3) Had the starter motor tested at advance auto parts and they said the motor tested good.
4) Inspected the fly wheel when I had the starter off and could only see about 20% of the fly wheel. Of the teeth I could see, only 1 tooth was missing and was not yet at the point in the fly wheel where it meet the starter.
5) I jumped an electrical connection from the battery(+) terminal to the (S) terminal on the starter solenoid and the same problem continued.
My last option is the just replace the entire starter, but at $120 a shot, I don't want to replace it unless i'm 100% sure it's the problem.
I'm asking for any and all idea's and suggestions to help me solve this problem.
Thanks to everyone in advance.
Err did you check the battery? If it has weak cranking power it will cause what you’re describing
Fireshroom, thanks for the reply.
I don't think it's the battery. I don't get the Clicking noise that i've seen in the past starting with a weak battery.
Also, the 2 out of 8 times it starts, it starts with no hesitation.
I'll go throw a meter on the battery later this afternoon just to be 100%
Anything other then the battery you can think of ?
Quote:
2)When I attempt to start the car, I hear what I can only describe as a high speed buzzing sound. I assume the buzzing sound is the stater motor spinning when it's not engaged to the fly wheel. I replaced the solenoid assuming that it was failing to engage the starter motor to the fly wheel. After replacement the problem continued.
3) Had the starter motor tested at advance auto parts and they said the motor tested good.
4) Inspected the fly wheel when I had the starter off and could only see about 20% of the fly wheel. Of the teeth I could see, only 1 tooth was missing and was not yet at the point in the fly wheel where it meet the starter.
5) I jumped an electrical connection from the battery(+) terminal to the (S) terminal on the starter solenoid and the same problem continued.
Sounds to me its a crab shoot, Basically if the starter has been tested, That narrows it down the chart, I would get the battery voltage tested make sure it has the crank ablity. Either way to replace the fly wheel its gonna cost $$$$$ for labour to do it unless u are gonna do it. Take it into a fact trouble shooting narrows the replacement of un necessary. My opinon would to get a full inspection done on the fly wheel, few teeth broken could cause those issues u have.
Good Luck.
i just replaced my starter about 4 months ago right befor it hit the -10*F range on the thermostat it was not disengauging from the flywheel...
After it got really cold the new starter is doing as yours mine was simply caused by being extremly cold out side... my battery is 790 cold cranking amps 900 some cranking
Fireshroom, I put a meter on the battery and i'm getting 12.98 volts.
I'm going to bring the battery to have it checked for it's cranking ability tomorrow just to be safe.
Thanks for your reply rich,
yes, the fly wheel replacement is way over my head mechanically, and way out of my budget to be spent on a car this old.
Do you know of an easy way to rotate the fly wheel manual so I can inspect the whole thing myself?
I'm confident that the starter motor itself is good, Because of the Advance Auto parts testing, Plus I can here it spin like crazy when the gear does not engage the fly wheel.
It just seems like it's not engaging the fly wheel 100%.
As of now there are 3 out comes to me attempting to start the car.
1 - It starts.
2 - The starter motor just spins like crazy
3 - The car crank once or twice then is it sounds like the start motor gear slips out and the starter motor spins like crazy.
Is it possible that something has failed with the physical leaver that pushs the gear into the fly wheel? Could it have gotten too "sloppy" over the years of wear and tear. which causes the starter motor gear and the fly wheel not to mesh fully, allowing the starter motor torque to twist out?
Please keep the ideas and suggestions coming,
Thanks for your reply jgilk1
Sorry to hear your new starter is doing the same thing? is it a new starter from a parts store, dealer ship, or junk yard?
It's cold here, but it's been alot colder during this winter. Maybe the cold + the age of the starter is contributing to the problem.
Since I have the starter off the car, i'll bring it indoors tonight to warm it up a bit. That will allow me to slap it back on tomorrow and see if there is an improvement.
While i'm having the battery tested tomorrow i'll have the starter tested again.
keep the suggestions coming, Thanks!
Roy McNabb wrote:
As of now there are 3 out comes to me attempting to start the car.
1 - It starts.
2 - The starter motor just spins like crazy
3 - The car crank once or twice then is it sounds like the start motor gear slips out and the starter motor spins like crazy.
sounds like either a weak solenoid or starter bendix to me. just because a starter tests good on the bench doesnt mean it's good on the car. put a load on it and the drive goes back in. seen it plenty of times.
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Thats another good point
Quote:
solenoid or starter bendix
good thinking Rich Grayo Jr.
Thanks for the reply Rich.
I original thought solenoid, that's why I replaced it.
Since I already replaced the solenoid with the same results i'm assuming the solenoid is good.
So that would leave that bendix.
Can it be replaced or i'm I forced to get a new starter?
even if you do, if you have any broken teeth on the flywheel, it'll only break the new starter.take the starter out, turn it with a large screwdriver to look for broken teeth.
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dittos to Rich..
If you have a spot on your flywheel with a few teeth missing it may stop at that point sometimes with the missing teeth at the starter. Other times it will stop where the teeth are good.
new flywheel will not be just a friday evening job but might have to be done.
Turn that engine over slowly off the harmonic balancer bolt with a socket and look all the way around that flywheel.
Pulling the plugs out will allow the engine to be turned over way easier.
good luck.
The problem ended up being in the starter. Either a bendix gear issue or some other worn out part inside the starter.
I also checked the flywheel and found that it was only missing one tooth. So since everything else checked out, It had to be the starter.
The car has been up and running for 2 days without any problems.
I'd like to thank Fireshroom, rich weeks, jgilk1, Rich Grayo Jr., Dave Lobi for all of the tips, suggestions, and knowledge that you all shared with me.
Thanks for the help everyone!
