Flywheel teeth prevent starter disengaging?
Posted: 01 Sep 2021, 20:24
Hi
I have been plauged by starter motor issues for some time now and am considering taking the next step to get this sorted but hoping to get some advice and support before taking the plunge.
It started by having to change a couple of starters in quick succession. I suspected poor quality reproduction/refurbished units. A garage fitted a 'hot start relay' which is still fitted. I appreciate there is divided opinion on the benefits of these but all seemed ok for a while. Another starter failed but this time I could start to hear a whirring sound on start up that preceded the starter failing. I learned this was the starter motor not disengaging. After some research on here I saw that this could be a sticky ignition switch keeping power on so I changed that. I also replaced all the main cables and the gbx/chassis earth. All was well for a while but I have to keep restarting van multiple times until i get the right sound (no whirring) and am confident the starter has disengaged. I have just exchanged another starter and the new one displays exactly the same behaviour as my spare starter......ie ok 50% and bad 50%. When it disengages it starts perfectly.....ie not sluggish or struggling etc. so I don't think it's bad earths etc?
On the last starter exchange I took a picture of the flywheel teeth as i now suspect this could be the root cause of my issue? I don't really know what I am looking at.........can anyone advise if condition of the flywheel teeth are preventing the starters disengaging and then ultimately failing. Also sharing pics of the failed starter teeth in case this helps.
20210821_144320 by chris read, on Flickr
20210821_144339 by chris read, on Flickr
20210821_144220 by chris read, on Flickr
Thanks for any advice, much appreciated!
I have been plauged by starter motor issues for some time now and am considering taking the next step to get this sorted but hoping to get some advice and support before taking the plunge.
It started by having to change a couple of starters in quick succession. I suspected poor quality reproduction/refurbished units. A garage fitted a 'hot start relay' which is still fitted. I appreciate there is divided opinion on the benefits of these but all seemed ok for a while. Another starter failed but this time I could start to hear a whirring sound on start up that preceded the starter failing. I learned this was the starter motor not disengaging. After some research on here I saw that this could be a sticky ignition switch keeping power on so I changed that. I also replaced all the main cables and the gbx/chassis earth. All was well for a while but I have to keep restarting van multiple times until i get the right sound (no whirring) and am confident the starter has disengaged. I have just exchanged another starter and the new one displays exactly the same behaviour as my spare starter......ie ok 50% and bad 50%. When it disengages it starts perfectly.....ie not sluggish or struggling etc. so I don't think it's bad earths etc?
On the last starter exchange I took a picture of the flywheel teeth as i now suspect this could be the root cause of my issue? I don't really know what I am looking at.........can anyone advise if condition of the flywheel teeth are preventing the starters disengaging and then ultimately failing. Also sharing pics of the failed starter teeth in case this helps.
20210821_144320 by chris read, on Flickr
20210821_144339 by chris read, on Flickr
20210821_144220 by chris read, on Flickr
Thanks for any advice, much appreciated!