Starter?

dave6666 · Mar 24, 2011

2001 GTS 42K 4 year old Interstate Megatron battery. Over the last month or so when I start the car - more so when hot than cold - the starter will hit hard and then bog enough to make you notice. All in the course of one crankshaft rotation. Then it fires and away I go. I was thinking battery even though a 4 year old Megatron is not old.

Yesterday when picking up adult beverage supplies it actually did the starter grind noise first attempt. Then hit correctly on the second try so onward to adult beverages at casa Dave. Starter grind noise being defined as motor was spinning, but did not engage flywheel. Car was warm.

So now I suspect the starter and if it wasn't for the fact that all 200 in inventory are somewhere's besides my local dealership I'd already be testing a new one. They are out of state in warehouse xyz.

To complicate matters there is a studio photo shoot Saturday that is expecting my car and if my starter is near the end I'd be leary of attending. If it is just going to be pissy with me for 6 more months I'll go and then get the new starter in next week.

Insert thoughts on starter/life left here -->> [ __________ ]

JohnnyViper · Mar 24, 2011

sounds like a starter to me, I would also inspect the teeth on the flywheel if you find a new starter still grinds or misses

JohnnyViper · Mar 24, 2011

also if you find that the starter is working hard at first before starting up it may mean the teeth are binding a bit. Maybe the starter needs to to be realigned with some shims

Phun70 · Mar 24, 2011

Contact Tator or Jon-b They will have what you need NOW!

costanZo · Mar 24, 2011

Phun70 said:
Contact Tator or Jon-b They will have what you need NOW!

This is true...

dave6666 · Mar 24, 2011

As it's 10:00 AM I need ice and fresh limes right now :drinker:

Flywheel is almost new Fidanza. Hard to suspect bad teeth already esp when the OE one I took off after 9 years looked perfect too.

Also, no disrespect to Tator or Jon B, but anything in their inventory of Oregon or New York is no more readily available to me than my dealer's warehouse. I'm more interested in opinions on what the condition of the starter might be than additional out of state sources for a new one.

JohnnyViper · Mar 24, 2011

just park it on a hill and pop the clutch while in first gear, with the key on the start position, problem solved :rolaugh:

JohnnyViper · Mar 24, 2011

dave6666 said:
Flywheel is almost new Fidanza.

Is this flywheel aluminum?

costanZo · Mar 24, 2011

JohnnyViper said:
Is this flywheel aluminum?

It should be.. I'm buying the same one from Todd at A&C Performance.

RobZilla · Mar 24, 2011

Dave has a legitimate question? :omg:

All kidding aside from my experience the starter should still turn the engine over for some time before it totally sh!ts the bed on you. It definitely should have two more starts in it (to get you to/from the shoot).

The local shop guys and dealer techs may have the best info. To fill in your _____: Suggestion Roberto says open an ice cold one and hit the phone like a telemarketer.

:usa:

eucharistos · Mar 24, 2011

dave6666 said:
As it's 10:00 AM I need ice and fresh limes right now ......

have you ever tried using this in a pinch :eater:

You must be registered for see images

.........

sorry, can't help with the starter question, i usually look to my bud dave6666 for such info

dave6666 · Mar 24, 2011

I used to use limeade but I'm no longer a yuppie. Agave and lime over ice.

And Johnny V... Fidanza = aluminum. But with steel ring gear.

JohnnyViper · Mar 24, 2011

dave6666 said:
And Johnny V... Fidanza = aluminum. But with steel ring gear.

Yes I check out their website, I was wondering if they also offered a chromoly version

costanZo · Mar 24, 2011

JohnnyViper said:
Yes I check out their website, I was wondering if they also offered a chromoly version

Johnny... PM

dave6666 · Mar 24, 2011

DC & I believe Parts Rack can get the CrMo version.

Wezbad1 · Mar 24, 2011

its time for a new starter dave. its been giving you warnings for a month. the bog(amp draw) is really not good for the electronics either. How long will it last?? kindof depends on how often you start it and its cooldown time. hot starters will always have the most issues. lets hope for less flywheel grinding or that sound of just a "click". order the starter, go to the photoshoot and hope for the best, you can always push start to get home.

RobZilla · Mar 24, 2011

dave6666 said:
DC & I believe Parts Rack can get the CrMo version.

^ Yes, I got mine there.

:usa:

fqberful · Mar 24, 2011

dave6666 said:
2001 GTS 42K 4 year old Interstate Megatron battery. Over the last month or so when I start the car - more so when hot than cold - the starter will hit hard and then bog enough to make you notice. All in the course of one crankshaft rotation. Then it fires and away I go. I was thinking battery even though a 4 year old Megatron is not old.

Yesterday when picking up adult beverage supplies it actually did the starter grind noise first attempt. Then hit correctly on the second try so onward to adult beverages at casa Dave. Starter grind noise being defined as motor was spinning, but did not engage flywheel. Car was warm.

So now I suspect the starter and if it wasn't for the fact that all 200 in inventory are somewhere's besides my local dealership I'd already be testing a new one. They are out of state in warehouse xyz.

To complicate matters there is a studio photo shoot Saturday that is expecting my car and if my starter is near the end I'd be leary of attending. If it is just going to be pissy with me for 6 more months I'll go and then get the new starter in next week.

Insert thoughts on starter/life left here -->> [ __________ ]

Just for giggles why not take a set of jumpers and another good, fully charged battery and give it a boost. That may provide some insight into the problem. I've seen marginal batteries do exactly what you describe.

--FQB

bluesrt · Mar 24, 2011

yeppers for the starter= and while ur at it=megatrons use water/acid, normal thing=check the acid and fill. check the ring gear, sometimes these days you can find a auto parts store that stocks (new) not rebuilt starters at a great price,and usually a good quality iv found at this point. thats all folks. :eater:

PacificSEASnake · Mar 24, 2011

If the motor is spinning, sounds like it's just the solenoid that's bad. I'd start there before replacing the entire motor. :dunno:

Phun70 · Mar 24, 2011

Get the battery tested. Cheap, quick and easy. Then I would check and clean all the electrical connections (scotch brite works great for this) remove than, scrub them and reinstall with dielectric grease. Take the starter out, and have it tested too. It's not hard to remove and that will tell you more in a couple hours than days of conjecture on the web would tell you in a month. Hope this helps. Mark

bluesrt · Mar 25, 2011

cell the car :nana:

dave6666 · Mar 25, 2011

I don't even think it has scrap value. :smirk:

Really though, I'm gonna get it in the air tomorrow or Sunday and take a looksie. I've been hauling beer and dead animal parts in the 1 ton so my existance while trivial is at least survivable.

dave6666 · Mar 28, 2011

Thought I would post a minor update here.

The starter did bog again Sunday morning heading out to my engagement. It seemed better as I had to start the car several times to move it at the engagement and then back to casa Dave. It had not been driven since my first post here.

Talked to my local Auto Zone the battery test they can do sounds pretty comprehensive. The starter machine though will not test a Viper starter as they have to enter a product SKU number for specs and it would not accept the SKU. Let alone they couldn't even order one. They said dealer item.

Soooooooooooo, I'll start with testing the battery as it comes out easy.

dave6666 · Mar 30, 2011

Took the battery to Auto Zone Monday and the initial test (handheld tester) showed 58% charged. They then put in on their charger and 3 subsequent reports from it said fail the first time pass the next two. The final test was back to the handheld and it said charged at about 75%. BTW, the terminals/tray etc were all showroom sparkly.

Soooooooo, I will have a new Interstate Megatron later today and we'll see how she flies. Still not warm and fuzzy that is the problem as how does a starter misfire and grind the flywheel due to low battery capacity and then seconds later on a re-try work perfectly. That does not sound like a battery issue but we'll see.

In related news I should pick up a few 10ths rwhp from all the road pebbles and other organic debris that poured out when I pulled the battery cover off.

Ratical2 · Mar 30, 2011

Dave, you have probably already thought of this, but check the starter terminals and cables. Corrosion there can increase resistance as well. I have seen cables that look good from the outside but the core was essentially rotted away.

dave6666 · Mar 30, 2011

Ratical2 said:
Dave, you have probably already thought of this, but check the starter terminals and cables. Corrosion there can increase resistance as well. I have seen cables that look good from the outside but the core was essentially rotted away.

I will do that. One nice thing however about this hot dry place we call :tx:

is that salty air, or salty roads etc are never an issue. And since the car is hardly ever driven in the wet things really do look good under a car after an extended time in those conditions. Wet-n-salt free = very little corrosion.

I will take a looksie once the battery is in and I can motor it up on my ramps.

SquadX · Apr 1, 2011

any update?

Jack B · Apr 2, 2011

Dave:

I don't have a manual at my location, but, the odds are that the starter has replaceable brushes. You could also have an issue with the contact surface on the armature-to-brush surface.

dave6666 · Apr 2, 2011

SquadX said:
any update?

I feel famous. Fan club of at least one

Anyway, 1/2 pound or so of debris from the battery cover has been vacuumed up.

And, a new in wrapper Megatron awaits me.

Moments ago...

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Workin' ******* a LANDSCAPING project at Dave's right now

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