Gabriel Morris-Iken
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2023
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 3
- Location
- Lilburn, GA
- Vehicle Year
- 1986
- Make / Model
- Ranger STX 2.9L
- Transmission
- Automatic
I have an '86 Ranger 2.9L RWD with an automatic transmission that's having trouble with the starter. I replaced it just a few months ago, and it worked great with no issues. About a week ago it started making a terrible grinding noise the first time I went to start the truck, then I would try again and it would start fine. A few days went by of this grinding then, I tried to start the truck and it was free spinning.
So I checked the flex plate teeth after taking the starter off, and most of the teeth are somewhat worn, mostly okay, but one tooth on was chipped pretty bad, on both the flex plate and the starter (one tooth each). Will this cause damage to a new starter if I go ahead and replace it again? The flex plate teeth aren't terrible, minus that one problem tooth, and I don't want to replace it if I don't have to, but I'm concerned I'll just be burning through starters until I replace the flex plate. Thoughts?
Note, neither the starter I took off, nor the new starter, came with shims. Is it possible I need shims to ensure the teeth of the starter pinion engage with the flex plate?
Thanks-
So I checked the flex plate teeth after taking the starter off, and most of the teeth are somewhat worn, mostly okay, but one tooth on was chipped pretty bad, on both the flex plate and the starter (one tooth each). Will this cause damage to a new starter if I go ahead and replace it again? The flex plate teeth aren't terrible, minus that one problem tooth, and I don't want to replace it if I don't have to, but I'm concerned I'll just be burning through starters until I replace the flex plate. Thoughts?
Note, neither the starter I took off, nor the new starter, came with shims. Is it possible I need shims to ensure the teeth of the starter pinion engage with the flex plate?
Thanks-