My truck wouldn't start. I turned the ignition, and all I could hear was the starter motor spinning. It sounded like it was slipping. I took it out, and saw a loose washer in there. So I changed bought another one from Autozone, and changed it out for another starter motor. I put it back on, and it still sounds like the starter gear is slipping through the flywheel. I took it out again, to test it, and it works perfectly. Does anyone know what this might be?

Thanks

-Tahleel

Check the celunoid part of the starter. I think that is the part that might have went bad. OR , crazy as this sounds, could be your negative battery cable is all corroded inside and needs to be replaced. It goes from the starter to the battery on some trucks.


edit: (personal experience with my old blue truck, and thats what it was. I went through 2 starters, 3 cellunoids, and a new battery, even removed the plugs to see if it was firing at all. 2 days later I finally dicovered it was the fkn black cable.)

BTW, for all you want to know.. its a 95 Ford Ranger XLT 2WD...

Anyways.. I don't think the solenoid on the starter is the problem. I got it tested, and it ran perfect. I'm also thinking it might that the battery is corroded, not sure. The power cable that goes to the solenoid seems to be corroded, but it is sending enough power for it to turn, so I don't think thats a problem. I drove the truck to my Mosque, back from a 2 hour drive from some camp grounds. I went to go get some food from in there, and go pray. And when I came out, it didn't start.

-Tahleel

When you pulled out your starter did you look at the flywheel? If the starter is turning and the solenoid is pushin the gear out it can only be one of maybe 2 things: Your overrunning clutch on the starter gear is not holding up to the torque of turning the engine over or you have a spot on your flexplate/flywheel that is missing enough teeth to not engage it. This is on the assupmtion that the engine is spinning at normal cranking speed. If not check the resistance of the neg wire like KaptainMyke said. You shouldn't have more than about .2 Ohms in that cable. (ONLY the cable! Check it with it still connected at both ends and you are checking the whole vehicle ground resistance). Let us know?


:thumbsup

Originally posted by RickyMeeses
When you pulled out your starter did you look at the flywheel? If the starter is turning and the solenoid is pushin the gear out it can only be one of maybe 2 things: Your overrunning clutch on the starter gear is not holding up to the torque of turning the engine over or you have a spot on your flexplate/flywheel that is missing enough teeth to not engage it. This is on the assupmtion that the engine is spinning at normal cranking speed. If not check the resistance of the neg wire like KaptainMyke said. You shouldn't have more than about .2 Ohms in that cable. (ONLY the cable! Check it with it still connected at both ends and you are checking the whole vehicle ground resistance). Let us know? :thumbsup

I checked the flywheel, and doesn't look like any teeth are missing, all of them are fine. Tomorrow, I will put up a multi-meter on it, and see how it is. Its at the Mosque now, and its dark outside, so I'll check it tomorrow.

-Tahleel

Just because your getting 12v through the cable, doesn't mean its not still too corroded to start the vehicle. This is what my downfall was during my 2 day scavenger hunt to figure out wtf my truck wouldn't start.

Originally posted by KaptainMyke
Just because your getting 12v through the cable, doesn't mean its not still too corroded to start the vehicle. This is what my downfall was during my 2 day scavenger hunt to figure out wtf my truck wouldn't start.

Yes Kap'n you are 100% right. 12v will go through a cable that is corroded. That would be the easiest thing to check so start there FIRST. Wise man that KaptainMyke! ;)

Update.. for all the people who wanted to know...

I found out that the cable going from the battery to the starter relay is bad.. IMO. Changed it, and it starts right up.

-Tahleel