car trouble, anyone good with motors?

[beatboaby924y]

Hi
I have a 3 year old fiesta and sometimes when I turn the key to start the engine it doesn't start and makes a loud noise that sounds like the starter squeeling. The noise is similar to when you turn the key when the engine is already running and you get a loud squeel from the starter motor. This only happens sometimes and was wondering if anyone could give me any ideas as whats wrong?
Thanks in advance.
Rob

 

[Des 56]

I haven't potched with cars for years but unless things have changed
It may be an inertia start motor which will turn and is supposed to throw the dog forward to engage the flywheel, if there is grime bunging up that pinion then the motor turns without any engagement and requires removal and cleaning

 

[Knobhead]

Starter pinion or flywheel ring knackered springs to mind.

 

[Strima]

Starter Bendix gear playing up or as pointed out flywheel ring gear slipping. I would go for the Bendix to start with, drop the starter out and have a look to make sure everything is moving freely. First of all ensure that everything moves freely and the gear moves along the shaft when rotated. It can be bench tested using a battery and some jump leads, just make sure it's secured to something otherwise the Tazmanian Devil will start to rampage around.

 

[Marvo]

Might be worth removing, cleaning and greasing the battery terminals and the solenoid connections first. If it still does it then you'll probably need a recon starter motor and solenoid. Shouldn't bee too expensive for a fiesta.

 

[Knobhead]

Do Fords still use Bendix starters? Thought they went out with the ark.

 

[parker56]

Starter motor also check main earth connection to engine.

 

[Strima]

Do Fords still use Bendix starters? Thought they went out with the ark.

Don't know, haven't worked on one but from the description given it sounds like it.

 

[UNG]

Thought all starters were pre engaged type these days had a similar fault on a Zafira that was traced to a loose connection on the starter motor

 

[Guest111]

yes they are pre engaged,another problem with them is the hook on the solenoid comes loose and starter spins but doesnt throw into flywheel easy fix though.

 

[poppypiesdad]

Starter motor or flywheel , or both

 

[nick182]

Two problems:

SQUEAL:

Loose or old fan belts can squeal. With the engine running (and careful not to get your hands in the fans or belts), spray WD-40 at the belts. The noisy belt should instantly silence.

Maybe the squeal is caused by something else (perhaps a bad bearing in a belt driven device, such as an alternator?).

Fan belt noise could get worse in colder temperatures because the belt material stiffens.

STARTER DOESN'T CATCH:

You might have a broken tooth on the flywheel (the starter's Bendix gear is supposed to pop out and engage the flywheel teeth, but if a flywheel tooth is broken, the starter will sometimes catch and sometimes not catch).

Before you go to the expense to replace the flywheel, see if there is a hatch to view it under the car (the flywheel is located by the starter in the bell housing of the transmission). To view all of the teeth, you will have to rotate the engine to various positions, which you could do with the engine off with a wrench on the bolt of the harmonic balancer (in other words, turn the crank shaft with a wrench and the flywheel should turn).

The battery could not cause this problem, but a broken flywheel tooth is almost certainly what you have described.

Some flywheels are bolted to the torque converter, and some are a part of the torque converter (requiring either a new torque converter or a lot of welding). To replace the flywheel, the transmission will have to be removed (a big job).

Lets hope that you don't need a new flywheel, because that would cost hundreds of pounds to replace.

 

[Strima]

SQUEAL:

Loose or old fan belts can squeal. With the engine running (and careful not to get your hands in the fans or belts), spray WD-40 at the belts. The noisy belt should instantly silence.

Maybe the squeal is caused by something else (perhaps a bad bearing in a belt driven device, such as an alternator?).

Fan belt noise could get worse in colder temperatures because the belt material stiffens.

Spraying oil on the belts will only cause the belt to slip more, but will hide the squeal, which is the most common cause of alternator belt squeal, only option is to correctly tension the belt or replace it. But as you have pointed out there maybe other problems.

As most modern vehicles have self tensioning devices on multi-V belts squeal has, on the whole, been eradicated, which means bigger problems.

 

[UNG]

STARTER DOESN'T CATCH:

You might have a broken tooth on the flywheel (the starter's Bendix gear is supposed to pop out and engage the flywheel teeth, but if a flywheel tooth is broken, the starter will sometimes catch and sometimes not catch).

The bendix went years ago starters are the pre engaged type these days

Before you go to the expense to replace the flywheel, see if there is a hatch to view it under the car (the flywheel is located by the starter in the bell housing of the transmission). To view all of the teeth, you will have to rotate the engine to various positions, which you could do with the engine off with a wrench on the bolt of the harmonic balancer (in other words, turn the crank shaft with a wrench and the flywheel should turn).

The battery could not cause this problem, but a broken flywheel tooth is almost certainly what you have described.

Some flywheels are bolted to the torque converter, and some are a part of the torque converter (requiring either a new torque converter or a lot of welding). To replace the flywheel, the transmission will have to be removed (a big job).

Lets hope that you don't need a new flywheel, because that would cost hundreds of pounds to replace.

I assume you are referring to a dual mass flywheel as torque converters are used on automatic transmissions

The loud squeal is more likely the thrust bearing if it is intermittent

 

[rfears]

It can be bench tested using a battery and some jump leads, just make sure it's secured to something otherwise the Tazmanian Devil will start to rampage around.

Been there, done that, still have the scars on my foot (student days, the best time to learn by experience)