Subie Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 This is my first post, so be nice! I have a '91 Legacy Wagon LS, and I am having trouble replacing a starter. When I install the new starter and turn the ignition on, the starter motor spins, but the bendix drive does not engage the flywheel. I have tested the starter to make sure the bendix was working by separating it from the engine while all the wiring was still hooked up. Upon turning the ignition on, the bendix drive pops out and starts spinning, just like it is supposed to. I can't find anything wrong with the starter, and there is nothing foreign up against the flywheel to block the bendix drive from coming out and grabbing the flywheel. I am clueless. I anyone has any ideas, I would be most greatfull. P.S. The new starter is a Bosch rebuilt from www.maximumautoparts.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sea#3 Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 You don't say whether it's an automatic or standard I suspect you have a starter that is for the opposite of the type of tranny you have SEA#3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcspeer Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 Sea#3 is probaly right, but you might also check to see if the teeth are good on the flywheel? Maybe it got stripped from the old starter. You could turn your motor by turning the crank pully just a little and then see if the starter will catch on some good teeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subie Posted September 19, 2004 Author Share Posted September 19, 2004 SEA#3 I am sorry about not mentioning my transmission type. It is automatic. While I am quite confident that I ordered the correct starter, it certainly seems like that would be a easy mixup for the seller to make. I will have to look into that. tcspeer Thanks for the idea. A friend also mentioned that. I was able to take a mirror and visibly check the flywheel. None of the teeth are missing, nor are they worn. Thanks, guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 I never realized there was a difference in starters between a manual and automatic transmission. Does this have to do with the flywheel somehow? Diameter maybe? I like your name Subie. Good one. Welcome to the forum. No questions are considered too elementry. Here you have brought up something I didn't know about. This helps us all learn something. There are some good technical savy folks here that would make great auto techs at a shop, but do other things for a living. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subie Posted September 19, 2004 Author Share Posted September 19, 2004 Cougar Thanks for the welcome. Also, something I might add. The new starter dimensions seem identical to the old one. The bendix drive extends out the same distance, and I believe is also the same exact diameter. Subie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcspeer Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 Can you exchange the starter? It may not have the power to turn engine and is just spinning within it self. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frag Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 I'm no starter expert, but if same was happening to me, I would investigate three possibilities: 1) The battery is too weak (or the battery's contacts are loose or corroded or...) to make the bendix engage the flywheel (do you get the same wirrr that you get when the starter is unbolted or does it sound like the bendix is contacting the flywheel but not engaging it?) 2) The starter's main contact is not hooked up properly (dirty or corroded or...) A LOT of amperage is going thru there. Would not take too much to lower the voltage... 3) The starter is misaligned. That seems farfetched cause you only have two bolts to fasten, but you never know. My 2 cents... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 The bendix may have a problem and is not moving the gear as it should be when mounted to the engine. If the depth of travel is ok and the bendix is working then the gear size must wrong. You may have to get someone from the place you purchased this from to exchange it for another one, as was suggested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coloradosubarules Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 Anybody know if these use shims? Were there any included with your new starter? I have only replaced the ALt on my 90. (Oil pump seal and gasket but that is a different story)Best of luck. Keep us updated please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Clark Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 It seems to me that the starter will not spin until the bendix armature engages the two contacts that supply 12 volts to the motor. So I have to assume that the bendix is popping out all the way. I would question whether or not the gear is extending far enough to contact the flywheel, since this appears to be the problem. If you have the old starter, check how far the gear will extend, then check your new one. I can't remember exactly what the gear looks like, and can't check it on my old starter until I get home, but I wonder if it is possible that the gear was installed upside down. You can also measure the distance between the edge of the bell housing and the teeth on the flywheel, and compare that to the gear on the starter when it is extended. later... OK, I checked, no way could they put the gear on wrong, at least I hope. You'll have to measure the throw on the gear and compare to the distance between the edge of the housing and the flywheel. Tiny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subie Posted September 21, 2004 Author Share Posted September 21, 2004 Car fixed!!!!!!!!!! It turns out the the starter they sent me was the wrong one! I ended up asking a sales guy at a local Napa about it, who was able to check the universal part number. He confirmed that the starter they sent me was the wrong one. I think that several of you were on the right track. This very well might have been for a manual. I also don't think the bendix extended out as far as the old one. Just a note for future reference, the Bosch rebuilt starter that I ordered online seemed to be a sturdier, more heavily built, all around better starter than the on I picked up at Napa. The bendix gear mechanism especially seemed way better. While I can't testify to the longevity of one, I would definitely recommend a Bosch rebuilt starter. If you have to order one, just pray they send you the right one! Thanks to all those that put some thought into my problem and helped me figure this one out. Go Subarus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 Glad you got it going Subie. Thanks for the feedback and your welcome for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 applications of the same basic unit. You have just learned why many mechanics keep the old unit until fitting the new one has been done and tested. Sometimes I have had to strip parts like the mount, or reclock (turn the houseing) on a unit in order to have the car done on time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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