Starter or much worse??

[p_justin13]

My vx has been starting oddly off and on for a bit no seemed like starter was going as battery was fine but no crank. Today on way to work started but sounded like the starter was winding the entire drive in. Just went to leave... crank it over and starter spins freely and loudly but not cranking engine. Starter just gone to crap or much worse possibly? Any quick solutions on getting that starter out. Looks like a pain in the arse... Thanks All

[Triathlete]

If the starter is "spinning freely" then it sounds like it is doing it's job just fine...unless the teeth on the shaft that engages the flywheel are stripped (or that shafft is broke). The next thing in line is the flywheel...it could be broke or have teeth broken off.

[Triathlete]

Forgot...the solenoid could be bad in the starter also...it pushes the shaft outward so that it can engage the flywheel.

[Scott Larson]

I'd go with the bad solenoid, it's a common failure part and easy and cheap enough to replace without breaking the bank or a sweat...good luck!

[p_justin13]

Can you get to the solenoid without removing the starter anyway though?

[Triathlete]

You are going to have to remove the starter...fun times ahead!

[iyafyl]

I agree with the solenoid diognosis. I replaced my starter a couple of months ago and have to say it was a giant pain in the butt. Have to drop the exhaust....cross threaded a bolt on the pipe that goes into the manifold so had to re tap it, left a bunch of knuckle skin everywhere, had to replace exhaust gaskets (even if they are pretty new, they are worthless once you take the exhaust apart), to this day I still can't find anyone with the correct gasket sizes, nailed myself in the eye with a breaker bar when removing the bolts on the passenger side exhaust.....and the list goes on and on. I'm pretty handy around a car, but (for some reason) replacing the starter was just bad juju for me. Not something that's fun for us guys with snausage fingers.