'92 SL1 Starter Will Not Engage

Starter rotates but starter gear will not engage. How can I fix the
problem?
Plenty of batterey power, lights,, etc. About six months ago Saturn
replaced the starter. Problem then was starter would not engage.

Thanks,

Mike

 

Starters engage one of two ways: Either the starter solenoid
operates a lever that pulls the starter gear forward along a splined
shaft into the ring gear, or there is a "Bendix drive" on the motor
with a spiral threaded gizmo that pushes the gear forward from the
motion of the starter motor. That said, there can be a dozen
different reasons for the motor failing to engage, from simple
sticking to having the starter loose to having the wrong starter to
missing teeth on the ring gear on the flywheel.

First thing to check is that the starter is not loose and that all
cables are tight. A bad connection or corroded cable can reduce the
"oomph" going to the unit and cause it to fail this way.

 

Sounds like what they used to call a "Bendix" I think.. A spring-looking
thing that forces the starter teeth to engage the flywheel on the car when
spun. If the spring is bad, it never touches or grinds...

Regards,
Joe - VROC #8013 - '86 VN750 - joe @ yunx .com - 973.571.1456 24/7

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http://www.youthelate.com/the_ride.htm

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House for sale - Northern, NJ - eMail me for details.

 

Took it back to dealer where they replaced the starter at no cost me.
They replaced the starter in Aug '03.

Mike