Starter grinding no warranty coverage

[alex16]

What is the best thing I can do? Was the dealership just replacing starters? Shims? It's getting bad on my mirage. Almost 50% of the starts now are grinds. I found a used starter from a 2015 for $33 shipped off eBay.

[inuvik]

What is the best thing I can do? Was the dealership just replacing starters? Shims? It's getting bad on my mirage. Almost 50% of the starts now are grinds. I found a used starter from a 2015 for $33 shipped off eBay.

There is a TSB for 2014's for starter issues with a warranty fix. Has this been completed on yours?

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...55251-3310.pdf

[Cobrajet]

I'd just replace the worn original starter with the used Ebay starter and call it a day.

[chris_top_her]

Starter is usually easy to replace. On my car from the bottom sode, you just unbolt it and remove the connectors. I don't think you have to do any special aligning with the sprocket

[Johnny Mullet]

Just be sure to disconnect the battery before replacing it.

[alex16]

Just be sure to disconnect the battery before replacing it.

Remove the main power wire without wrench touching any metal (slide heater hose over the wrench). Then slide smaller heater hose over the positive terminal. R&R starter. That's the flat rate way of doing it haha.

[Eggman]

What is the best thing I can do? Was the dealership just replacing starters? Shims?

What does your visual inspection show - is it caked with dirt? I wonder if that would keep your starter pinion from fully engaging the flywheel.

I sure hope the flywheel teeth are not damaged from continued gear mesh problems. If that is the case, you'd be replacing the ring gear as well as the starter. Ick.

What about the starter recall?

In any case, be sure to post up some detailed photos please.

[alex16]

Starter is clean. It's been grinding for a while. Dealership said the couldn't duplicate it back when it had the full coverage. I'm pretty sure half of the flywheel teeth are chewed. I might pull the plugs and slowly turn over the engine and file the bad ones smoother for now if I can. Hopefully I'll find a used flywheel for cheap for when the clutch job. I'm also having a issue with it "eating" coolant. It's used all of the over flow tank, I've had to add almost half a gallon with no visable leaks. I assume it's a head gasket issue, for now I just have guesses though.

[MightyMirageMpg]

. Hopefully I'll find a used flywheel for cheap for when the clutch job. I'm also having a issue with it "eating" coolant. It's used all of the over flow tank, I've had to add almost half a gallon with no visable leaks. I assume it's a head gasket issue, for now I just have guesses though.

Pop the radiator cap off and start the car look for bubbles. Indicates compression getting into the cooling system.

If the oil or coolant look milky they are cross contaminating

Pull the plugs inspect them look for white "chalky" substance usually built up around the outside indicates burning of water or antifreeze.

Any or all point to bad headgasket and it isn't something ide "let go" because you might end up roaching the head itself


Good luck with the starter, and don't buy a used flywheel unless your going to resurface it

[Eggman]

I assume it's a head gasket issue, for now I just have guesses though.

If that's the case, it would be the third head gasket failure on this forum.