Re: Grinding noises and wont start
 

Matt wrote:
> Howdy! I'm new to the group, i've had my YJ for about 5 years now and
> it's the first time i've ran into anything that has had me stumped.
> about 4 weeks ago my battery finally crapped out and died. I had
> driven it with a super low battery for about 2 weeks (i know bad idea)
> until i came up with the money to replace the bad battery. So i
> replaced it and everything was fine and dandy until about 3 weeks ago
> when i went to start my jeep and i got this weird loose grinding
> noise. Not like something was being torn apart, i guess it would be
> more of a free spinning chain noise. I was just wondering if anyone
> had any suggestions about what it might be? The jeep will catch every
> third of fourth try and start right up but it has me mystified.
>

Sounds like your starter drive has gone bad, time for a new starter.

If I remember right these have the kind of Bendix that when the starter
spins the centrifugal force causes the gear to extend out into the ring
gear on the flywheel or torque converter. When the Bendix starts going
bad the gear won't extend properly and it does what you are describing.

Although it wouldn't hurt if you make sure all the electrical
connections are clean and tight, if the starter is spinning more slowly
than it should the same thing can happen.

Another possibility is that the ring gear is bad, if you have a habit of
trying to start an already running engine that can tear up the ring
gear... but that's unlikely.

Jeff DeWitt

Re: Grinding noises and wont start
 

Matt wrote:
> Howdy! I'm new to the group, i've had my YJ for about 5 years now and
> it's the first time i've ran into anything that has had me stumped.
> about 4 weeks ago my battery finally crapped out and died. I had
> driven it with a super low battery for about 2 weeks (i know bad idea)
> until i came up with the money to replace the bad battery. So i
> replaced it and everything was fine and dandy until about 3 weeks ago
> when i went to start my jeep and i got this weird loose grinding
> noise. Not like something was being torn apart, i guess it would be
> more of a free spinning chain noise. I was just wondering if anyone
> had any suggestions about what it might be? The jeep will catch every
> third of fourth try and start right up but it has me mystified.
>

Sounds like your starter drive has gone bad, time for a new starter.

If I remember right these have the kind of Bendix that when the starter
spins the centrifugal force causes the gear to extend out into the ring
gear on the flywheel or torque converter. When the Bendix starts going
bad the gear won't extend properly and it does what you are describing.

Although it wouldn't hurt if you make sure all the electrical
connections are clean and tight, if the starter is spinning more slowly
than it should the same thing can happen.

Another possibility is that the ring gear is bad, if you have a habit of
trying to start an already running engine that can tear up the ring
gear... but that's unlikely.

Jeff DeWitt

Re: Grinding noises and wont start
 

Matt wrote:
> Howdy! I'm new to the group, i've had my YJ for about 5 years now and
> it's the first time i've ran into anything that has had me stumped.
> about 4 weeks ago my battery finally crapped out and died. I had
> driven it with a super low battery for about 2 weeks (i know bad idea)
> until i came up with the money to replace the bad battery. So i
> replaced it and everything was fine and dandy until about 3 weeks ago
> when i went to start my jeep and i got this weird loose grinding
> noise. Not like something was being torn apart, i guess it would be
> more of a free spinning chain noise. I was just wondering if anyone
> had any suggestions about what it might be? The jeep will catch every
> third of fourth try and start right up but it has me mystified.
>

Sounds like your starter drive has gone bad, time for a new starter.

If I remember right these have the kind of Bendix that when the starter
spins the centrifugal force causes the gear to extend out into the ring
gear on the flywheel or torque converter. When the Bendix starts going
bad the gear won't extend properly and it does what you are describing.

Although it wouldn't hurt if you make sure all the electrical
connections are clean and tight, if the starter is spinning more slowly
than it should the same thing can happen.

Another possibility is that the ring gear is bad, if you have a habit of
trying to start an already running engine that can tear up the ring
gear... but that's unlikely.

Jeff DeWitt

Re: Grinding noises and wont start
 

Jeff DeWitt wrote:
> Matt wrote:
>> Howdy! I'm new to the group, i've had my YJ for about 5 years now and
>> it's the first time i've ran into anything that has had me stumped.
>> about 4 weeks ago my battery finally crapped out and died. I had
>> driven it with a super low battery for about 2 weeks (i know bad
>> idea) until i came up with the money to replace the bad battery. So i
>> replaced it and everything was fine and dandy until about 3 weeks ago
>> when i went to start my jeep and i got this weird loose grinding
>> noise. Not like something was being torn apart, i guess it would be
>> more of a free spinning chain noise. I was just wondering if anyone
>> had any suggestions about what it might be? The jeep will catch every
>> third of fourth try and start right up but it has me mystified.
>>
>
> Sounds like your starter drive has gone bad, time for a new starter.
>
> If I remember right these have the kind of Bendix that when the
> starter spins the centrifugal force causes the gear to extend out
> into the ring gear on the flywheel or torque converter. When the
> Bendix starts going bad the gear won't extend properly and it does
> what you are describing.
> Although it wouldn't hurt if you make sure all the electrical
> connections are clean and tight, if the starter is spinning more
> slowly than it should the same thing can happen.
>
> Another possibility is that the ring gear is bad, if you have a habit
> of trying to start an already running engine that can tear up the ring
> gear... but that's unlikely.

And if you are in the rust belt or offroad any, sometimes a sharp tap
with an axe handle to starter motor will free it up for a short
while.

Bad spinup or lazy starter can often be the starter relay.

--
DougW

Re: Grinding noises and wont start
 

Jeff DeWitt wrote:
> Matt wrote:
>> Howdy! I'm new to the group, i've had my YJ for about 5 years now and
>> it's the first time i've ran into anything that has had me stumped.
>> about 4 weeks ago my battery finally crapped out and died. I had
>> driven it with a super low battery for about 2 weeks (i know bad
>> idea) until i came up with the money to replace the bad battery. So i
>> replaced it and everything was fine and dandy until about 3 weeks ago
>> when i went to start my jeep and i got this weird loose grinding
>> noise. Not like something was being torn apart, i guess it would be
>> more of a free spinning chain noise. I was just wondering if anyone
>> had any suggestions about what it might be? The jeep will catch every
>> third of fourth try and start right up but it has me mystified.
>>
>
> Sounds like your starter drive has gone bad, time for a new starter.
>
> If I remember right these have the kind of Bendix that when the
> starter spins the centrifugal force causes the gear to extend out
> into the ring gear on the flywheel or torque converter. When the
> Bendix starts going bad the gear won't extend properly and it does
> what you are describing.
> Although it wouldn't hurt if you make sure all the electrical
> connections are clean and tight, if the starter is spinning more
> slowly than it should the same thing can happen.
>
> Another possibility is that the ring gear is bad, if you have a habit
> of trying to start an already running engine that can tear up the ring
> gear... but that's unlikely.

And if you are in the rust belt or offroad any, sometimes a sharp tap
with an axe handle to starter motor will free it up for a short
while.

Bad spinup or lazy starter can often be the starter relay.

--
DougW

Re: Grinding noises and wont start
 

Jeff DeWitt wrote:
> Matt wrote:
>> Howdy! I'm new to the group, i've had my YJ for about 5 years now and
>> it's the first time i've ran into anything that has had me stumped.
>> about 4 weeks ago my battery finally crapped out and died. I had
>> driven it with a super low battery for about 2 weeks (i know bad
>> idea) until i came up with the money to replace the bad battery. So i
>> replaced it and everything was fine and dandy until about 3 weeks ago
>> when i went to start my jeep and i got this weird loose grinding
>> noise. Not like something was being torn apart, i guess it would be
>> more of a free spinning chain noise. I was just wondering if anyone
>> had any suggestions about what it might be? The jeep will catch every
>> third of fourth try and start right up but it has me mystified.
>>
>
> Sounds like your starter drive has gone bad, time for a new starter.
>
> If I remember right these have the kind of Bendix that when the
> starter spins the centrifugal force causes the gear to extend out
> into the ring gear on the flywheel or torque converter. When the
> Bendix starts going bad the gear won't extend properly and it does
> what you are describing.
> Although it wouldn't hurt if you make sure all the electrical
> connections are clean and tight, if the starter is spinning more
> slowly than it should the same thing can happen.
>
> Another possibility is that the ring gear is bad, if you have a habit
> of trying to start an already running engine that can tear up the ring
> gear... but that's unlikely.

And if you are in the rust belt or offroad any, sometimes a sharp tap
with an axe handle to starter motor will free it up for a short
while.

Bad spinup or lazy starter can often be the starter relay.

--
DougW

Re: Grinding noises and wont start
 

Jeff DeWitt wrote:
> Matt wrote:
>> Howdy! I'm new to the group, i've had my YJ for about 5 years now and
>> it's the first time i've ran into anything that has had me stumped.
>> about 4 weeks ago my battery finally crapped out and died. I had
>> driven it with a super low battery for about 2 weeks (i know bad
>> idea) until i came up with the money to replace the bad battery. So i
>> replaced it and everything was fine and dandy until about 3 weeks ago
>> when i went to start my jeep and i got this weird loose grinding
>> noise. Not like something was being torn apart, i guess it would be
>> more of a free spinning chain noise. I was just wondering if anyone
>> had any suggestions about what it might be? The jeep will catch every
>> third of fourth try and start right up but it has me mystified.
>>
>
> Sounds like your starter drive has gone bad, time for a new starter.
>
> If I remember right these have the kind of Bendix that when the
> starter spins the centrifugal force causes the gear to extend out
> into the ring gear on the flywheel or torque converter. When the
> Bendix starts going bad the gear won't extend properly and it does
> what you are describing.
> Although it wouldn't hurt if you make sure all the electrical
> connections are clean and tight, if the starter is spinning more
> slowly than it should the same thing can happen.
>
> Another possibility is that the ring gear is bad, if you have a habit
> of trying to start an already running engine that can tear up the ring
> gear... but that's unlikely.

And if you are in the rust belt or offroad any, sometimes a sharp tap
with an axe handle to starter motor will free it up for a short
while.

Bad spinup or lazy starter can often be the starter relay.

--
DougW

Re: Grinding noises and wont start
 

Ouch!

As others have noted, check the starter to see if it's loose first, but
the low battery starts could have done some serious damage.

I have seen the starter gear not fully fit into the flywheel from low
power starting which eats off the gears on both the starter 'and' ring
gear.

If the starter is tight, you need to remove it and inspect the gears on
in and on the flywheel. If the flywheel gears are chewed, they will
kill a new starter fast, real fast...

I find it easiest to pull the engine on a Jeep to fix it rather than
pulling the tranny and working from below.... At least the ring gear
can be replace, you don't need a whole flywheel if it's chewed up.

I had a defective rebuilt starter blow it's nose bushing which ate up my
ring gear fast. Sure a new starter was free under warranty, but that
'didn't include pulling the engine or tranny to fix it.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Matt wrote:
> Howdy! I'm new to the group, i've had my YJ for about 5 years now and
> it's the first time i've ran into anything that has had me stumped.
> about 4 weeks ago my battery finally crapped out and died. I had
> driven it with a super low battery for about 2 weeks (i know bad idea)
> until i came up with the money to replace the bad battery. So i
> replaced it and everything was fine and dandy until about 3 weeks ago
> when i went to start my jeep and i got this weird loose grinding
> noise. Not like something was being torn apart, i guess it would be
> more of a free spinning chain noise. I was just wondering if anyone
> had any suggestions about what it might be? The jeep will catch every
> third of fourth try and start right up but it has me mystified.
>

Re: Grinding noises and wont start
 

Ouch!

As others have noted, check the starter to see if it's loose first, but
the low battery starts could have done some serious damage.

I have seen the starter gear not fully fit into the flywheel from low
power starting which eats off the gears on both the starter 'and' ring
gear.

If the starter is tight, you need to remove it and inspect the gears on
in and on the flywheel. If the flywheel gears are chewed, they will
kill a new starter fast, real fast...

I find it easiest to pull the engine on a Jeep to fix it rather than
pulling the tranny and working from below.... At least the ring gear
can be replace, you don't need a whole flywheel if it's chewed up.

I had a defective rebuilt starter blow it's nose bushing which ate up my
ring gear fast. Sure a new starter was free under warranty, but that
'didn't include pulling the engine or tranny to fix it.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Matt wrote:
> Howdy! I'm new to the group, i've had my YJ for about 5 years now and
> it's the first time i've ran into anything that has had me stumped.
> about 4 weeks ago my battery finally crapped out and died. I had
> driven it with a super low battery for about 2 weeks (i know bad idea)
> until i came up with the money to replace the bad battery. So i
> replaced it and everything was fine and dandy until about 3 weeks ago
> when i went to start my jeep and i got this weird loose grinding
> noise. Not like something was being torn apart, i guess it would be
> more of a free spinning chain noise. I was just wondering if anyone
> had any suggestions about what it might be? The jeep will catch every
> third of fourth try and start right up but it has me mystified.
>

Re: Grinding noises and wont start
 

Ouch!

As others have noted, check the starter to see if it's loose first, but
the low battery starts could have done some serious damage.

I have seen the starter gear not fully fit into the flywheel from low
power starting which eats off the gears on both the starter 'and' ring
gear.

If the starter is tight, you need to remove it and inspect the gears on
in and on the flywheel. If the flywheel gears are chewed, they will
kill a new starter fast, real fast...

I find it easiest to pull the engine on a Jeep to fix it rather than
pulling the tranny and working from below.... At least the ring gear
can be replace, you don't need a whole flywheel if it's chewed up.

I had a defective rebuilt starter blow it's nose bushing which ate up my
ring gear fast. Sure a new starter was free under warranty, but that
'didn't include pulling the engine or tranny to fix it.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Matt wrote:
> Howdy! I'm new to the group, i've had my YJ for about 5 years now and
> it's the first time i've ran into anything that has had me stumped.
> about 4 weeks ago my battery finally crapped out and died. I had
> driven it with a super low battery for about 2 weeks (i know bad idea)
> until i came up with the money to replace the bad battery. So i
> replaced it and everything was fine and dandy until about 3 weeks ago
> when i went to start my jeep and i got this weird loose grinding
> noise. Not like something was being torn apart, i guess it would be
> more of a free spinning chain noise. I was just wondering if anyone
> had any suggestions about what it might be? The jeep will catch every
> third of fourth try and start right up but it has me mystified.
>