myates3

Hey guys...new member here with a tech issue. Recently had a starter go out and replaced it with a reman from Autozone. Starter spins but does not engage flywheel. Tested starter and verified gear pops out and spins as it should. I can turn the flywheel with a screwdriver or by turning belts/pullies by hand. All flywheel teeth are good and battery is new/fully charged. I can even rig it up so the starter is attached with one bolt but turned 180 deg so gear is not in the flywheel housing. Did this while son turned ignition to verify gear is moving forward properly. Checked out. I've changed about a dozen or two starters in my life and this is the first such issue I've ever run into.

What could be the problem? Wrong gear on reman starter? Any possible electrical/mechanical issue elsewhere? Car has been out of comission for 4 weeks now and growing more and more frustrated each day. Let me know if any additional info would be helpful in diagnosing the problem. Thanks in advance...

Neglected to mention it's an '83 Rx7 , 5 speed, with 74K miles and was running strong until this setback.

myates3

Update:

Problem solved. After a month of testing ever possibility that could be causing the issue and with only one more handful of hair to pull out of my head...it was a bad starter. Apparently the reman was put together with the wrong casing. I finally broke down and took it back. Tested fine but compared it to another that they had in stock and the housings were slightly different causing the gear to be about 1/16 out of alignment. That explains why it was spinning but not engaging...off center enough so the starter gear teeth we pushing against the solid part of the flywheel rather than sliding into the teeth.

I'm sure this will never ever happen to anyone ever again and I'm the only dumba## that would let it go that far, BUT in case you have a similar issue...maybe, just maybe the starter has the wrong casing.

myates3

It never ends...seems my replacement, replacement starter was junk too. Tried to drive it to work this morning and began to get a nasty rattle sound. It got bad and then turned more into a grinding sound. Parked the car and had it towed. Apparently the starter gear got stuck to the flywheel (not sure how that happens) and sheared off...hence the symphony of metal I heard. New starter ordered and hoping I don't have to replace the flywheel. More to come...I'm sure.

myates3

Final update...two junk starters later she's running again. Third one was the charm and fortunately my flywheel was not damaged. Now back to slowing restoring this baby...