I've had sluggish starts that have now turned in to a no-start that I need help troubleshooting. I've tested the starter and the fuel system, fuel pressure is fine and starter tests fine (they're both basically new). Battery is fine (12.6V). Would a loose timing chain lead to hard starts and eventually a no start once the timing is completely off? Don't know the state of it but I doubt it's been changed over the life of the vehicle (right around 170k miles). I have a video of what it sounds like that I can try to upload somewhere if that helps.

Edit: I've also checked all the relays/fuses and they all seem to be fine.

 

Here's a link to the video. It's barely turning over so is it possible there's a short somewhere and the starter isn't getting full voltage?

 

A starter usually clicks when it isnt getting enough power. Sounds like yours is getting power, but its not engaging. My guess is a faulty solenoid. Pull the inspection cover off the bell housing and see if the starter engages when cranked. If all the little gear does is spin, you need a new starter.

 

So I yanked the starter and both tested it myself and took it to Autozone and had them test it... applying 12V both pushed the gear out and had it spinning so I assumed that meant it was fine

 

I can see in the video that the engine is not turning over . It looks like it starts to move but then stops , the drive on the starter mite be bad under load and starts to slip so it can't turn the engine , try changing the starter and see what happens .

 

I suppose I'll order a new starter though this one is less than 2 years old, does anyone have a recommendation for brand that will last?

 

Running a brand new, not reman, starter from Napa.
Thinking 4 years now. So far so good.
Wasn't cheap but I wanted a new one.

 

IIWY I'd clean the ALL the cable connections. Then measure how many volts you're seeing during cranking (should be about 10).

 

Is a solenoid problem something that gets gradually worse and wouldn't show up during routine testing?

 

Hold the phone, people. It's not time to be buying starters. That thing is spinning just fine. It's been tested. It's fine.

What's missing?

Teeth.

You are probably missing some teeth on your flex plate (flywheel on a manual trans). There's nothing there for the drive gear to engage with and spin the engine over.

Time to do some noggin' pokin' and see if you are missing some teeth.

 

Is that likely to happen with an automatic transmission as well?

 

On the video it doesn't sound like it is grinding the teeth on the flex plate , but it would be good to check the teeth when you remove the starter .

 

Yes, sir! Both kinds of transmissions can have this problem. The starter engages the same way.


Agreed. It sounds like it's not engaging anything, which is what would happen if the teeth are all gone bye-bye.

The starter is spinning, but the engine ain't turning. That means that the starter gear is not engaging the flywheel/flex plate. Missing teeth is one reason for that, or it's possible the drive gear is spinning on the shaft or it's not extending fully. A test at your local auto parts store might not catch that.

 

Watch the video it tries to turn the engine does move witch makes me think it is the starter drive that is slipping it just can't handle the load . but we wont know until it is fixed .

 

So to follow up and give some closure - turns out it was the starter. Though it checked out fine in testing, the drive wasn't actually engaging the flexplate. Installed new starter and it cranked immediately. Question is, what would kill a brand new starter in less than 3 years? (Or is it common for them to go out that quickly).

I also noticed after starting it up a very noticeable knock/rattle, does this sound like a loose timing chain? (Hopefully it comes through in the video)