starter good, sometimes? 98 contour - Engine Troubleshooting


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starter good, sometimes? 98 contour

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Lager_Light
New User

Jul 5, 2006, 7:15 PM

Post #1 of 3 (2103 views)

starter good, sometimes? 98 contour	Sign In

Thanks for reading. I have a 98 ford contour v6 that has been having starter issues since the fall. It seems to start regularly and then randomly the starter fires but doesn't seem to engage all the way and just does an awful whine grind sound while the starter spins until I can shut it off quick. It might do it twice in a row and then the third try fires right up.

Lately it has been getting more frequent and it may take 5 or more tries before it will start. Do you think this is just a slowly failing starter. Is it bad for the fly wheel gears or anything to have it not fully engage or whatever it is doing? Finally is there parts in the starter you could replace that might fix this or should I just spring for the new starter?

Thanks for the help,

~Peter

DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Jul 6, 2006, 3:37 AM

Post #2 of 3 (2098 views)

Re: starter good, sometimes? 98 contour	Sign In

The way it sounds by your description it likely is the starter or the starter drive; (the small gear set on a one-way clutch inside the starter) that is failing.
With today’s starters being a lot more complex as in gear reduction and permanent magnet style I would just replace the whole unit. Opening one of these starters for a patch repair usually will cause another portion of the starter to fail shortly afterwards. In other words do a complete rebuild yourself (not easy) or buy a rebuilt unit with a warranty.
With this starter being allowed to do this for a while now I would be a little concerned that this starter drive has not damaged the flywheel’s ring gear.
Ever one or two teeth on the ring gear being damaged are enough to cause the same symptoms to begin all over again. With the starter removed have someone rotate the engine using some form of wrench or socket on the crankshaft pulley bolt, while you inspect the ring gear.
Dan.

Canadian "EH"

Lager_Light
New User

Jul 7, 2006, 3:05 PM

Post #3 of 3 (2082 views)

Re: starter good, sometimes? 98 contour	Sign In

Thanks for the help. I will check it out and take your suggestions into the hood with me.

~Peter

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