Well, I changed my girlfriends oil the other night on her '97 Impreza. Well, I thought I'd be cool and try to "prime" the oil pump by feathering the starter to get oil pressure to build up, well, anyway I did that a few times and once the starter sounded like it was grinding any way now it does this almost everytime you go to start it?? What did I do?

The gear that comes out of the starter to connect to the teeth on the flywheel to start the car is probably chewed up. This gear is built with a softer metal than the flywheel so you end up replacing a starter gear (not that expensive), and not the flywheel (expensive especially the labor). This gear will wear over time, and your actions may have sent it over the edge and it's my guess that it's chewed up. Last time I replaced a starter...a really long time ago, it wasn't that much more to buy a new starter with a warranty, than the associated parts to fix it.

In the words of H.I. McDunna -

"I kinda figured that Glen..."

That's what I was afraid of - so - your saying it should be the starter - not the flywheel...

I'm pretty sure it was the starter cause it was starting to sound sick before I pushed it one toke over the line...

I guess I'll have to buy her a new starter....???

...if you want to keep her as a girlfriend, that's a valid assessment. Don't beat yourself up too much, you were just the instrument of the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Do your self-esteem a favor and get her a new starter and install it. Another way to do what you wanted is disconnect the center ignition wire from the distributor so the car can't start and crank over the engine normally until the oil pressure builds up. Then re-install the ignition wire and you're good to go. However, don't do as I did and not re-install the wire loosely--really bad running condtion (bucking and stalling) until I found I hadn't put the wire back tight enough.

Sweet! Thanks for the tip Ed!! That will help so much!!!

I know I'd redeem myself by buying and installing a new starter - she likes how handy I am - just changing the oil impressed her hehehe - I can't imagine what installing a starter would do. She might just fall in love with me.

lol!

Oh and BTW Jer2911, DON"T Forget to DISCONNECT the battery ground. I'm sure she probably wouldn't like the potetional catastrophe that might happen if you didn't!!

 

Bill

What would that be Bill??

But...If you burn it to the ground and completely rebuild, she'll love you forever:rollin:

This has never happened to me, but it happened to my accident prone uncle. If the battery is grounded to the battery and the car has juice and you disconnected the electrical connection to the starter and then touched a piece of metal with it...

 

It would ark and weld that connection to the metal piece and totally fry all your electrical. Now this is word of mouth from my dad (who's brother is this uncle) so I'm not sure if it's this extreme, but I didn't want to find out for myself. So I followed his and the books instructions and disconnected the battery.

 

Still waiting for that email...

Laters Bill

Bill,

I need your e-mail addy again, I lost it.

Thanks!

shadofax96@hotmail.com

 

I just recently replaced the starter in my car. So I know what your going through.

I've also heard of starters "Stalling" and causing the battery to explode! (Happened to my auto teaher, lucky for him it blew out the side so he got acid all over his shop coat and not in his face)

Jordan,, just to add

all alacrity in this matter is meritorious The ring gear will ware, then you are into a big time repair as the tranny or engine will need pulled.

If the worn bendix on the starter is used too often the spot on the ring gear will also be chewed up (note here the engine only stops at certian places <span style="text-decoration:underline">every time</span> it is switched off - this due to the piston compression. So you are hitting the same spot each time with the worn starter bendix.

 

Now the good news, you can change just the bendix on the starter and do NOT need to change the entire starter.

Skip...

Any idea on the cost of said part? Should I just get a re-build kit for it and go from there? Just wondering how hard/technical this would be - a new starter would cost close to $132.99!!! Soooo....just looking to minimize the cost of my stupidity - the thing is getting worse and worse, so I think it's time to tackle this problem before we get stranded...

You are right, you are retarded but there is hope for you yet if you learned something from this experience. If it only costs you 132.00, chuck it as an experience.

quasi,

 

You better shape up, and fast! I don't want see any derrogatory/rude remarks.

 

If you don't like my comment, then leave!