when starting it it making a lot of noise from the starter

it probably has the wrong starter in it an disn'thitting the teeth of the flywheel correctly. it will tear the flywheel up again as wellas the starter if it's not fixed right. there has to be a certain distance between starter and flywheel. you might have to change the nosepiece or dirve assembly for the correct one.

Are you referring to nose piece or drive assembly on the starter?

The starter, this sounds like a poor quality rebuild. I would remove the starter to check the teeth of the flywheel if okay I would get a motorcraft starter motor from Amazon or Rockauto. Here it s guide to help walk you through the steps.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-starter-motor

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken

I own a 1991 Ford Ranger 4.OL V6 2wd/ auto transmission extended cab with a 6 foot bed. W/ 98,000 original miles, I don't drive it much.

First, when I attempt to start my truck the starter grinds, I pulled the started took it to the auto shop and of course warrenty test shows no problems, so before buying a new starter I thought I would check other problems.

The starter makes a grinding noise; however, when I turn the engine over manually it engages, but the engine still makes a grinding sound it sometimes starts.

Second, My truck then will drive rough and shakes a little due to the engine then when I reach a stop sign where it stalls. I checked spark wires they are fine, spark plugs are new, but might need regapping, though I doubt that is the problem. I tried better fuel but to no use.

My grandfather thinks it is the starters clutch, a lowly $100 and ten min change for a new starter, they wont give me my warrenty for a new one. Conversely, I think that it could be my belt (the one that runs around the fly wheel alternator), or my vacumme. or a combination.

I would like to get others professional opinions before I start to splurge the little money I don' thave left.

Thank you,
Mic Mason

If the starter is partially engaged to the flywheel while the truck is running, that could throw off the balance and make the truck run rough. Usually when the the starter is grinding, it's because it's loose.

The truck is a V6 4.0L. I think that the starter is bad. But, I cannot mannually turn the engine over by hand. I can get it a quater of a turn. I was wondering if the compression builds up and this makes it difficult to manually turn an engine over? or is there something wrong with the trucks engine.

could removing the sparkplugs make turning the engine over if it is the compression?

Thank you for your responses.

Yes, compression would make the engine hard to turn. Try putting a breaker bar with the right size socket on the bolt that goes through the balancer and turn the engine like that. If it is on the compression stroke, the engine will be hard to turn. Removing the plugs would help let air out and make it easier.

Novice--My car is having trouble starting.
Makes noises then starts after a few tries
usually in the morning. Mechanic said over the
phone it sounds like the starter.
I would like to replace it myself.
I was told it ws easy but would also like to know
where it is located.

All you have to do is to follow your big battery cables. One is screwed to your car chassis, and the other one to your starter.
I have a 1990 ranger with a manual transmission, and my starter is located a little bit on the right of the oil pan if your looking at it from underneath it.

i got a 89 ford ranger 4x4, 5 speed,186 1337 km 2.9L v6. when i turn the key the starter grindes with the flywheel i can feel it in the shifter and won't turn over the engine, i have taking out the starter and tryed to test it but it won't work out of the engine. the gears on my starter seem in good shape and the flywheel gear looks good no chips or steel shavings the guy i got the truck from sayed it did that to him he changed the bendex(not sure what or were that is)but that would fix it for about a year. i put the starter back in it still grinds but was able to start the truck once. any input on what is causing this would be greatly appriceated

The first thing i would be inclined to try is a new starter motor, as you can purchase one, check to see if it cures the problem, if not you can always return the starter and get your money back,so then you dont lose anything. If you find that that does not help then you may need to take a closer look at the flywheel teeth. give these a try then come back to let me know, then i can maybe help you furhter. good luck.

New starter fixed it.. thanks for the help....

ive changed the starter , col, sylenoid, and my starter is still grinding and having problems starting .

what is grounding sound like? is it like solenoid isn't releasing and continues to grind? could be faulty ignition switch if so. is it just grinding when starting engine up? may need shims adjusted or added.

Over the last 6 months my truck shut off when it got hot, checked starter and it was loose after replacing ignition control module, one brace on the starter had been broken off and it was sitting in crooked pretty much, once i tightened it up there was a loud grinding noise, replaced starter, same thing, attempted to shim it, still nothing. What could be wrong?

check to see if flywheel is screwed up and starter drive

already have, both look fine, my auto tech teacher told me the spacer plate between starter and flywheel could be bent causing starter to go in to far.

I doubt that besides if you shimmed it it would have taken care of it. without seeing this not much I can suggest further.

Ok, thank you.

Engine Mechanical problem
1987 Ford Ranger 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic
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The truck has been hard to start. Sometimes the starter grinds and it recently broke the mounting right from the starter. It was a cheap Autozone replacement. Now I put another starter in and it grinds then the seluniod keeps burning out. Any help? Could timing be off?

Hi VTBILL,

Either the flywheel ring gear is faulty or you have got the wrong starter teeth. Could be the ignition switch is faulty and is not releasing the solenoid.

I have a 1986 Ford Ranger 2.9 6cyl 5 speed manual transmission.

A while back, my starter went bad so I replaced it. A year later it went bad and I replaced it. 3 months later it went bad and I replaced it.....eventually the starter was only lasting a couple of days. I replaced the flywheel and starter. It acted just like it did with the old starter and flywheel. If I take the starter off and push it into what I think is the right position and torque down the starter bolts real good, it will start. But it make a loud grinding sound when the engine starts. The grinding sound only last a split second. If I turn the engine off and start it again, the grinding sound is louder and longer when the engine starts. The grinding sound is louder and last longer each time I start the engine. After 3-4 starts, the engine will no longer start. On the 3rd and 4th start, there is a grinding sound WHILE it is cranking as if it is in a bind.

My question is: What could be causing the problem if I have a new flywheel and starter installed?

Thanks in advance for your time,

Jeff

Battery has a full charge and all battery connections, coming and going, are clean and tight on all ends. You can turn the crank by hand, correct, nothing trying to freeze-up? Can you look and see if starter gear and flywheel teeth are meshing like they should?

You may have to check actual voltage reading at your starter? Any testing, make sure the tranny is neutral and a functional e-brake is set.

JDL,
Thanks for the response. I just installed a new battery and removed the wire going from the battery to the starter and cleaned it pretty good. I don't think the crank is in a bind because the engine runs really smooth and has plenty of power after it is cranked. The gas mileage is about the same as it always has been as well.

Could it be that my transmission is causing some sort of problem? Does the starter turn the transmission while starting the engine? I am asking because there is some vibration that seems to be coming from the transmission while driving the truck.

Also, when I replaced the flywheel, I had to pull the transmission. Could it be that the transmission bolts are not tightened properly and the transmission is not being held in the correct position to line up the starter with the flywheel?

Thanks,

Jeff

I wouldn't think the tranny had anything to do with it.

The only reason I mentioned the transmission is because the starter bolts directly to the transmission and if the transmission is not properly in place, then the starter, by default, is not in the right place and not lined up with the flywheel like it should be. Does this make sense?

Yes, it is possible. Is there a flywheel cover that you can remove? Maybe you can see the starter teeth and flywheel teeth engage?

Hey guys I went through everything you all have to go through trying to do my 91 4.0 V6 manual transmission and decided to shims you need to lean it one way closer or further away or you have the wrong starter most likely the wrong starter if it didn't grind before with your original starter and then it's grinding when you replace it it could be the wrong starter guys.

That would be a rare occasion, where Guy didn't dfo the job right. Forcthe most part, that doesn't happen. The vibration you feel is coming from the starter and flywheel staying engaged "off track". Guys, if your starter is grinding, then it's not disengaging. Why is it sticking? Electromagnetic function not releasing "Bendex?" (arm pushing to engage flywheel? Pushing/pulling whatever. Check the gringing area and note whether the teeth are on or off the flywheel. This will indicate if it is too far or close and check the distance between the flywheel teeth and starter "shaft" which the tooth ring are attached to. Obviously, I do not know the names of everything. I just like to wrench. Gentlemen...Semper Fi!