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Eric,
Have watched videos on this subject. Thought I had an ignition problem until I realized that the rotor and pulleys were not turning so I figured I had a starter problem. Replaced the starter and same problem. When I attempt to start the car it has a definite unusual noise from starter. When I pull the spark plugs I do get the engine to turn, pulleys and rotor will spin. Sound is more normal from starter when it spins freely.
Have come to the diagnosis that I may have a worn flywheel. Is that possible?
Prior to the 1998 Honda Accord 4 cylinder just not starting the car was having “hard starts” for several weeks prior to it just not starting.I am a recently retired dentist and this is a utility car that was my daughters. So I am a molar mechanic not a car mechanic. But I have enjoyed this project of trying to fix the old Honda. It is frustrating to not have gotten it figured out.
Thank you for your time,
Tom
PS I am new to the world of forums- this is my first post on a forum.
I could post a short video if that would help.
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Welcome to the forum. As for the issue, I also say check the timing belt. If it broke, the engine will not start. More information here in this article I wrote.
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems
Good luck and keep us posted.
The rotor will spin when the spark plugs are removed. My understanding is the rotor would not spin if the timing belt was broken. It is when the engine is under compression that the starter does not seem to engage the flywheel completely. I even tried putting just the number 1 and 4 plugs then just the number 2 and 3 plugs in; and I had the original problem.
The starter will make noise as if it is not meshing smoothly with the flywheel. With no compression; the motor, rotor and pulleys will turn and a more normal sound comes from the starter. As if it has enough of a “bite” to turn the motor.When I had the starter removed I was able to turn the flywheel. Also, I did not notice any looseness in the flywheel when I tried to wiggle it with my hand.
Thank you for the tip. I will check the timing belt just to be sure.
NO crank NO start.
I think my naming this ” crank no start” is not correct. The engine does not crank but the starter does work.
My inexperience called it a crank because the starter works but it is not causing the motor to crank unless the plugs are removed.My fault.
Possibly this will change your diagnosis.
The car has 191K miles and had the timing belt changed at 100K by previous owner.Thank you for your help.
Tom
Thought two short videos may help.
First one has plugs placed.
Second one has no plugs.Thanks for your help.
TomHi Tom, if a new starter is having trouble turning the engine unless the plugs are removed it may not be able to draw enough current. Give the battery a charge, clean the terminals and clamps, clean the positive starter connection and also the ground strap (follow the battery negative to where it meets the engine). Watch Eric’s video ‘diagnosing starter problems’ and perform voltage drop tests.
It would be nice to know what sort of ‘unusual noise’ happens when you crank with the plugs in. It is possible to have a worn flywheel ring gear (or whatever you call it in an automatic: we don’t have many of those in the UK) but unlikely. More likely is that the starter pinion-to-ring gear clearance is wrong: Eric has a video on ‘how to shim a starter’ with more info.
Hi Tom, if a new starter is having trouble turning the engine unless the plugs are removed it may not be able to draw enough current. Give the battery a charge, clean the terminals and clamps, clean the positive starter connection and also the ground strap (follow the battery negative to where it meets the engine). Watch Eric’s video ‘diagnosing starter problems’ and perform voltage drop tests.
It would be nice to know what sort of ‘unusual noise’ happens when you crank with the plugs in. It is possible to have a worn flywheel ring gear (or whatever you call it in an automatic: we don’t have many of those in the UK) but unlikely. More likely is that the starter pinion-to-ring gear clearance is wrong: Eric has a video on ‘how to shim a starter’ with more info.
[quote=”tyuhas” post=94661]Thought two short videos may help.
First one has plugs placed.
Second one has no plugs….I am not able to load the small video file in a .ZIP file extension.Tom[/quote]
Upload to youtube and just post the link here :). I too am having a No Crank/no Start issue so I’m interested to know what noise you have & your outcome. 🙂
Welcome to the Forums too 😀
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Personally i dont think you are getting enough power to the starter to compensate for the compression of the motor! Check the timing belt like they said, and if thats still in tact, then check your the power that you are getting to the starter! Ill attatch link
The noise is from the area of the starter and it is a metal on metal sound. I have a video that demonstrates this but I was not able to download a video.
I will clean all terminals, charge the battery and do a voltage drop test as I saw Eric do in a video.
I will take pictures of the wear pattern on the new starter teeth and try to get a picture of the flywheel teeth.I have watched the video of Eric’s on Shimming a Starter- however I do not understand where the shims are placed. If my starter is indeed not engaging enough tooth surface of the flywheel how would a shim make it engage more tooth. To me a shim would make even less contact not more. Video did not show where to place the shim. The starter I removed did not have shims and the new rebuilt starter did not have shims.
Thanks for the help,
Tom
you could have a broken flex plate and win it is under compression it is slipping just a thought if I am understanding this wright. if every thing is turning win the plugs are out and nothing is turning win they are in this might be the problem if you are not having a voltage drop.
[quote=”tyuhas” post=94728]If my starter is indeed not engaging enough tooth surface of the flywheel how would a shim make it engage more tooth. To me a shim would make even less contact not more.[/quote]
A shim alters the angle at which the starter meets the ring gear. For example, a shim on the inside fastener would make the starter tip inwards and engage more tooth surface.
LandRover,
Thanks for the reply. I just do not know what the inside fastener is. Not sure how to attempt this shim technique.I hope to get voltage readings and learn how to upload to YouTube and then link to it. I really think if you could hear what it is doing you would know exactly what is wrong.
Thanks for your help,
Tom
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