I sat for a minute and tried to crank it and it wouldn’t crank

2016 FORD EDGE
64,000 MILES • 2.0L • 4 CYL • TURBO • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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LWW2
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Last Monday I had just got on the interstate. After going roughly 2 miles I went to change lanes to go around a car. I pushed the accelerator down and my car just wouldn’t go. I kept trying to step on the gas and my car would whine really loud and the RPM's would go up really high. I was able to get it to the side of the interstate and I put it in park and turned it off. I sat for a minute and tried to crank it and it wouldn’t crank. The starter will turn but the solenoid will not engage to turn the flywheel to turn the motor over. The battery died completely so we replaced it and tried charging it to 100% after trying to crank it so many times drained the new battery. We tried replacing the starter and we still have the same result. No engine fire. Help please!
Jan 10, 2020 at 9:36 PM
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KASEKENNY
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I have some initial questions because, I am not sure I follow with how the starter turns but will not engage the flywheel. Can you get a recording of what it does? That may help.

If the starter spins but does not engage the fly wheel that can only be the starter so that is why I am not fully understanding what is happening. Let's get a recording of the issue and then if you can check for codes as well, we can go from there. Thanks
Jan 11, 2020 at 3:47 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

It sounds like you have a couple different things happening. Please confirm this for me. First, when the engine was revving really high, did it seem like the transmission was slipping and you were not accelerating? Also, you mention that the starter engages but doesn't turn the engine. I have to be honest, if that is the case, remove the starter and inspect the flywheel. Under normal conditions, I would say the bendix is bad on the starter, but since the engine was revving, It sounds like the flywheel unbolted from the engine.

Let me know if how I understood this is correct. If it is, we need to remove the starter to check if the flywheel is loose. If it is, the torque converter won't turn and that would explain why the transmission wasn't engaged allowing the engine to rev really high. If I had to guess at this point, something came apart between the engine and transmission. Further inspection will need done.

Here are the directions from alldata to check the starter motor gear and flywheel, The attached pic correlates with the directions.

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2016 Ford Truck Edge FWD L4-2.0L Turbo
Starter Motor Drive Gear and Flywheel Ring Gear Inspection
Vehicle Transmission and Drivetrain Flex Plate Testing and Inspection Component Tests and General Diagnostics Starter Motor Drive Gear and Flywheel Ring Gear Inspection
STARTER MOTOR DRIVE GEAR AND FLYWHEEL RING GEAR INSPECTION
303-06A Starting System - 2.0L EcoBoost (184kW/250PS) - MI4 2016 Edge
General Procedures
Starter Motor Drive Gear and Flywheel Ring Gear Inspection
Inspection

Remove the starter motor.
Refer to: Starter Motor (303-06A Starting System - 2.0L EcoBoost (184kW/250PS) - MI4, Removal and Installation) .
Check the wear patterns on the starter motor drive gear and the flywheel or flexplate ring gear. If the wear pattern is normal, then install the starter motor.
Refer to: Starter Motor (303-06A Starting System - 2.0L EcoBoost (184kW/250PS) - MI4, Removal and Installation) .
imageOpen In New TabZoom/Print
If the starter motor drive gear and the flywheel or flexplate ring gear are not fully engaging and the starter motor drive gear is scored or damaged, then install a new starter motor.
Refer to: Starter Motor (303-06A Starting System - 2.0L EcoBoost (184kW/250PS) - MI4, Removal and Installation) .
If the teeth on the flywheel or flexplate ring gear are scored or damaged, then install a new flywheel or flexplate.
Refer to: Flexplate (303-01A Engine - 2.0L EcoBoost (184kW/250PS) - MI4, Removal and Installation) .

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Pic 2 shows the flywheel/flex-plate and how it bolts to the engine. There are 6 bolts. It isn't common for a problem there, but I have seen them break.

Let me know.

Joe
Jan 11, 2020 at 3:51 PM
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LWW2
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I’m just now getting the responses to my question. We’ve been working on the car all day which is at my mom’s house. We rented an OBD2 scanner and got code P06E9. What we think has happened is that the battery was replaced and the BCM wasn’t reset. So we think it’s just been reading the new battery as the dead one. We’re going back in the morning to rent the scanner again to reset it and I will get a video of what’s happening. Hopefully this will work. Thank you for your responses.
Jan 12, 2020 at 8:33 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Interesting. If you get a chance, let me know what happens.

Joe
Jan 12, 2020 at 10:19 PM
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JAKEFALLIS75
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I have the same exact problem. The same exact thing happened to me. 2015 Ford Edge 2.0L eco boost. I recently paid $2,000 to have a broken flex plate replaced. Could this be related? It should be under warranty.
Sep 1, 2023 at 11:11 AM
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JAKEFALLIS75
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I followed those procedures listed in this post. I turned the flywheel with my finger, and it moved easily without any resistance. Is there anything in the VCT or VVT system that would cause the flywheel to disengage? Or any other system?
Sep 1, 2023 at 2:28 PM
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JAKEFALLIS75
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I inspected the flywheel and flex plate. It is broken. The second one in 6 months.
Sep 2, 2023 at 12:04 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

Wow, the second one in six months? That isn't good. I certainly see where it is broken. Is there any warranty from the place that installed it?

Also, the VVT wouldn't cause any issues with the flywheel. What is happening?

Let me know.

Take care,

joe
Sep 2, 2023 at 8:06 PM