Starter grinding

[JShipps]

Hi All, long time follower, first time poster. My 06 Expy has been doing this ever since I got it used in 08. Every once in awhile, I’ll turn the key to start it up and instead of doing the normal start-up, it’ll make that loud screeching/grinding sound cars make when you turn the key after they’re already started. I immediately stop turning the key and try again and most times it starts right up like normal. However, it seems to be doing this a little more often now. Any ideas on what it could be?


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[stamp11127]

Welcome to posting on the site.

Pull the starter and check the teeth on the drive gear of the starter. If none are broken, turn the crank over with a socket and breaker bar on the harmonic balancer and inspect the teeth on the ring gear.

If you are lucky it will be the starter gear.

 

[1955moose]

I have same issue on my 2000 5.4 I installed a Ford reman starter about 1 1/2 years back, so I'm pretty sure its my flywheel. Like stamp stated pull your starter, if your lucky its worn teeth there. But not sounding like scrooge, its more likely the ring gear making a bad tooth contact every 7-10 startups you might be able to dress the damaged flywheel teeth, with a file. that will buy you some time for now. You'll need either a flywheel Turner, or have an assistant crank pulley with a socket.

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[98eb5.4]

id replace the starter motor pronto,

easy job compared to the ring gear

 

[03 exp]

replace the starter as soon as possible, hope it didn't damage the flywheel.

 

[stamp11127]

If the ring gear has broken teeth on it and you choose to replace the starter as mentioned above, what is going to keep the new starter gear from being damaged when the teeth don't mesh correctly?

 

[98eb5.4]

nothing, but every use of the starter motor that results in gear grinding does something/not good to the ring gear

it could very well be (or was) due to a starter motor issue to begin with,

it's not something you take any chances with particularly when the starter is so easy to deal with, in comparison to pulling a tranny,

any grinding on starts is the time to pull the starter pronto first,

op indicates the issue has gone on for some time, known since 08

fix the easy possible issue prob right away, cos any further grinding risks another part that is big dough to fix

 

[1955moose]

But just changing a starter without inspecting, and repairing/ replacing ring gear, is just a recipe for failure. Think of it this way, you could replace worn brake pads, but if the rotors are scored badly due to the old pads wearing metal to metal, the new pads are going to be chewed up and grooved, in no time. Our job here is to school our members in the proper and long term repair of their vehicles. If just getting you home, or till next payday, theirs always a quick way. We're trying to help him fix it once!

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[lbv150]

I have an '04 doing the exact same thing.

 

[BHtut]

I don’t think it’s the stater but maybe the ignition switch behind the key lock or the ignition key lock itself is worn.

 

[lbv150]

I don’t think it’s the stater but maybe the ignition switch behind the key lock or the ignition key lock itself is worn.

Mine does it with either remote start or with the key. Definitely starter or ring gear.

 

[BHtut]

You are right lbv150. It's been happening to my '03. My guess was the ignition switch but I was wrong. Does anyone know how to replace a starter? Videos, pictures with instructions would really help. Thank you!

 

[1955moose]

The starters are the same on these vehicles, with the exception of a bolt on the front side, that needs to be removed with a long e extension and swivel. Another fun Ford better idea!

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[JExpedition07]

You are right lbv150. It's been happening to my '03. My guess was the ignition switch but I was wrong. Does anyone know how to replace a starter? Videos, pictures with instructions would really help. Thank you!

 

[mbtech2003]

Replace starter and ring gear at the same time. Mine went 2 years ago. If it grinds there both bad. I recommend a new starter not a rebuilt one. I got this one from rock auto. Verry happy with it for the price. Get a oem flex plate and new bolts.

 

[stamp11127]

For those that haven't noticed, the OP is a one post wonder. Makes the initial post and we wonder where he went......

 

[JShipps]

No reason to wonder, I'm still here and have read every reply. I had to think for awhile what OP meant. I'm guessing it means Original Poster? Also, I'm not a mechanic. All I was really looking for was whether I need to panic or not about my starter. I've got other issues with my Expy too. Like the incessant ticking. I've learned from this forum that it's something called the cam phaser, most likely. I wish I could fix these things myself, but I can't. So, I come here to learn about what the issues may be so I don't sound like a complete moron when talking to whatever mechanic I take it to. I also like to know if the mechanic I take my ride to knows anything about what I'm talking about. If they have a blank look on their face, I know to run away.

So, I apologize if I wasn't as interactive and responsive as you typically like to see. But, the convo was getting far over my head.

 

[stamp11127]

Glad you came back. Usually you would get a reply within a few minutes of posting.

We have quite a few posts where the solution is offered, the member fixes the problem and disappears without an update.

As an instructor I tell the students to speak up if I say things they don't understand. You came here to learn, most of us are willing to teach. So what is over your head?

And where are you at with your issue?

 

[1955moose]

Stick around, you'll be giving advice soon. Most of our little forum members aren't mechanics by trade, but know more than most Ford mechanics.

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[jasonmcc68]

I have a 2006 that I have owned for 6 years now. It has 154,000 miles on it. I have had this same issue for going on two years now and have replaced:

5 starters
1 flexplate
&
1 ignition switch assembly

First starter was replaced then two months later needed a second starter. I think this one wasn't put in correctly because 6 months later it literally came unbolted and was hanging off the truck while it was running sitting in a parking lot. So put in number 3 and decided the flexplate needed to be replaced to stop the drama. Did that and 6 months later barked at me again. 3rd starter was determined bad by a separate shop that switched it out and put in starter number 4. You guessed it a few months later it did it again. They determined it was the ignition switch burning up the starters and switched it out. After a few months it did it again. They said that the starter that was on it when they switched out the ignition switch may have gone bad already before the switch, so that makes number 5. Now it is two years later since it all started and it still does it about every other day. Sometimes you can hear it plain out slipping, other times it starts to grab then fails, that jerks the engine and sounds terrible. It almost always cranks after the first time failing and it always cranks eventually. I am just waiting for something major to fail and doing as much maintenance as I can to keep it running.