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Spinning starter motor BN7

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AH67

AH67

Senior Member
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The starter on my BN7 has been acting up as of late. When I push the starter, the starter motor turns faster than usual and does not engage the flywheel.
Battery was installed a couple of months ago...
Is there a quick fix or do I need to change SOLENOID, starter.
Thanks all

AH67
 
AH, If the starter is spinning the Solenoid is working. Since it sounds like the starter is not engaging the flywheel, then the bendix on the starter shaft is broken or (hopefully not) the teeth on the flywheel are gone.
 
it is easy to remove the starter (from underneath) -- just two bolts and some wiring to undo. Then check condition of bendix spring and whether the starter gear is stuck on the shaft. Could be freed up and greased up to function correctly. If spring is broken, replace.
 
FWIW, I rebuilt my starter over 100K miles ago and it's worked flawlessly ever since. I cleaned the bendix mechanism thoroughly and lubricated with a light silicone oil. I thought using any petroleum-based lubricant might attract dust and eventually gunk things up.
 
thank you all.. tried to work on the BN7 today and battery was drained, I thinking it could be a bad battery,, worth a try first?
 
Recharge the battery, that's not the problem. Dead batteries won't spin starters, but spinning starters will drain the battery
 
Charge the battery up on the bench then take it to a place that sells batteries and get them to put it on a load tester. If it passes, check your charging system and any lights left on or if it fails replace it.

If you don't have a battery charger, get one of the modern electronic ones that has a 'float' mode which can be left on indefinitely to maintain battery condition when not in use. CTEK make good ones.

Andy.
 
I cannot explain why a weak battery would spin the starter but not engage the starter gear with the flywheel. Andy's advice to get your battery checked is of course good. If you have no further problems engaging the starter gear with the flywheel, it must have been a fluke.
 
fair enough, I take a fluke anytime... really appreciate all the advice.. now I need to buy a battery. Everyplace I go to suggests a different group
 
When you say you 'jump' started it, do you mean from a battery installed in another car with jump leads or do you mean you push started the car? If the former then the issue could be an intermittent problem with the starter motor meaning it might need replacing or refurbishing as intermittent problems tend not to just disappear.
 
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