Strange noise while cranking.

[turbotalon1g]

I didn't want to continue hi-jacking the kiggly flexplate install thread.

Car is '91 AWD auto, nothing swapped(trans), mods in sig.

My car has a grinding issue, but only when starting the car, once it is running there are no problems.

I warrantied the starter and still the same issue, so I thought maybe a broken flexplate, but it is in perfect shape.

I am 100% stumped why I'm having this issue.
Since the trans is out, I'm installing a kiggly flexplate I am just waiting for my ARP hardware to show up.

The starter plate appears to be the correct one by referencing pics posted by JNZ tuning's starter plate page.
http://www.jnztuning.com/product_inf...oducts_id=3947

I have the center plate (which per JNZ is for a 1G auto):



I have called parts stores and searched trying to see if there is a different starter, but it appears the only oddball starter is for a 2G auto trans all the other cars use the same.

Any help is much appreciated.

---------- Post added 05-29-2014 at 19:48 ----------

Anyone?
I have ARPs on the way to install my Kiggly flexplate.

So i keep forgetting to check the logs, however the car is back together with the kiggly flexplate and ARP crank bolts.
Still have the same issue, voltage does drop to 9V (checked via multimeter on battery during cranking),
starter checked out to be ok, however so did the battery.

I have a small AGM battery rated to 220CCA in the car, its been fine before but I did kill it this winter.
Now I've been charging it tested ok at 2 diff places on 2 diff types of testers.
Last tester this am, (interstate battery tester) showed the battery having 12.48V and 338CCA.

When I get off work, I will try it with a battery out of my ford ranger which is in the 600-700CCA region IIRC.

I'm 100% baffled by this issue, some of you mentioned adding a ground maybe if the new battery tries that.

---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 12:00 ----------

Tried a newer even more powerful battery, 2 months old rated at 700CCA, 825CA@32F.
no change.












I'm ridiculously baffled by this, any help is much appreciated.

---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 15:40 ----------

Anyone?

---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 20:17 ----------

So a friend mentioned that I've been having these issues since I swapped this motor in the car.
It's a used motor out of a local kids 5 spd car, but what could be on it that would cause these issues?
Dowel pins? crank bushing? Guys I'm 100% clueless on what to do here and I've already R&R'd the transmission once this week to try and solve the issue to no avail.
I'm honestly stumped.

[Speedfreak]

It's the correct flex plate(diameter)? How do the teeth look?

[Goat Blower]

Are you sure you have the correct starter? Besides a different one for autos, there's a separate part number for builds up to 12/90, and after 1/91 for autos. I'm betting you have the later one.

[turbotalon1g]

Flexplate is correct, teeth are starting to look not perfect from this issue.

Starter has been in the car since 8/12 when we went to the track.

[Speedfreak]

Starter may have been in the car, but everything it mates with has changed no? Maybe it's all designed to work with the other starter?

[A//// Guy]

Seems like that starter is not engaging properly, just from the paint missing on only the tips of the teeth.

[turbotalon1g]

Motor has been changed.
Paint is missing on 2/3rds of the teeth but that is the approximate width of the ring gear.
I will measure to confirm later.

[Goat Blower]

Originally Posted by turbotalon1g

Starter has been in the car since 8/12 when we went to the track.

I thought you warrantied the starter for a new one? Here's what Napa online shows.


Starter - Remfd - Standard
Part Number: RAY 2446417
Product Line: NAPA Power Premium Plus
IMPORTANT INFO: w/ Automatic Transaxle;From 1/91


Starter - Remfd - Standard
Part Number: RAY 2446422
Product Line: NAPA Power Premium Plus
IMPORTANT INFO: To 12/90;w/ Automatic Transaxle

[turbotalon1g]

My bad, yeah I did. But it's the same part number. sorry.

That is weird info, o'reillys shows just one.

[turbotalon1g]

As soon as you select GSX or all wheel drive the option for that "from 1/91" disappears.
My car is 6/1991

[turbotalon1g]

Just got back from napa and he says they only list one number for all the starters for my car, nothing about auto trans.

[turbotalon1g]

Well I ordered that one listed for 1/91 and up auto cars, should have it tomorrow am and we will see what happens.

[dsmghost]

I let you know my experience with this issue on your ecmlink forum thread. The noise has come and gone a couple of times for me. I got rid of the noise and I never changed starters. I just changed the starter circuit harness (frayed and corroding ends on my original) and put in a new battery.

I have a friend with a 1g and his always had the grinding/scraping noise while cranking. Eventually his starter went bad and he had me throw in the new one. We were both excited to see if the new starter would cure the noise while cranking, it did not.

Have you checked for voltage drop on the starter circuit? Also measure the voltage drop across the solenoid. Voltage drop test the whole circuit, so don't forget the ground side (starter case back to neg terminal). And remember current has to be flowing for resistance to drop the voltage, so someone has to be cranking while your testing for voltage drop (excessive resistance). Rule of thumb is no more than .2v of drop per connection or .5v per cable.

Make sure the ground cable that goes into one of the trans bellhousing bolts is actually through one of the starter bolts.

[Goat Blower]

Hmm, that's strange, but I've always had better luck with napa, OReilly's has had more issues with these types of parts.

[turbotalon1g]

yeah I saw your post on link, if my buddy stops by later I'll do the test and see what happens.
At this point I'm desperate to try anything, usually stuff like this is me fucking shit up, but I can't believe I haven't found the problem yet.

[dsmghost]

If your voltmeter has the MIN/MAX button you don't need a second person to crank, or if you have long enough leads you can watch the voltmeter while cranking also.

[turbotalon1g]

Tried that auto starter linked above with no luck, huge thanks to AJ/DSMghost for the help.

Just going to wait until i have time to pull the trans again in 2 weeks.

[dsmreck]

Is the starter just engaging for too long? I assume u have checked simple stuff like grounds etc. I suspect maybe the easy stuff like wires power ground and the hoodicky wire.

[turbotalon1g]

I tested all of those, and voltages while cranking.

[A//// Guy]

When does the noise happen, as soon as you turn the key or as it's starting to fire over? Those pics on fb look rough. I did a quick Google search and found quite a few people with the same problem. http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/97-...inding.473767/