I've been getting an occasional "grinding" noise when I turn the ignition key, and the local Mazda dealership tells me that I need a new starter and a new flywheel, because they both have chipped teeth!

Naturally, I want to confirm this diagnosis, especially since I have an RB 16# steel flywheel and it cost quite a bit about 3 years ago. I want to check the flywheel teeth for damage, and I'd like to know a good way for me (and a buddy) to do this, with the engine in the car. Thanks!

 

good question, i kinda need to do this too...

 

well you could always take a peak at your starter and if it looks great, dont worry. but its prolly chewed up and if so drop the tranny and take a look at the flywheel. i have the same thing and have gotten the same advice. havent fixed it yet cause im swapping to a TII tranny and will get a new flywheel when i get that.

 

Take the starter off and you will see a few of the flywheel teeth. You can paint one so you will recongnize it again. Next, take a screw driver with a long handle (for leverage) and rotate the flywheel gently and inspect the teeth. Don't crank it fast enough to start the engine. Take the spark plugs out if you want to be extra safe.

 

will the screwdriver hurt the fw? i was gonna say look at it and have a buddy turn the motor by hand, but itd be easier to drop the tranny since you are msot likely going to have to change the flywheel anyways doh. and if not you can go ahead and chage your trann fluid

 

I think theres an inspection plate on the top of the engine you can take off and look down in there...Disable the ignition and have someone "bump" it over with the key as you watch it. Then, pull the starter and check the teeth on that. Its easier to do it thisway rather than pulling the whole tranny .

~T.J.

 

I keep forgetting how low the compression is on rotary engines. A friend could either turn the crank pulley by hand, or put a long breaker bar on the crank pulley bolt and turn it like that. (no the bolt won't come out. They're a bitch to get out) Disable the ignition so it doesn't accidentally start and hurt someone.

 

Excellent ideas.. Thanks, you guys..

Where's that "beer" smilie when I need it?!

 

inspecetion plate? come up with evidence hehe

 

That picture of your nose get's scarier and scarier...or...whoever's nose that is.

 

My car does the same thing. When I bought it, the guy told me that the flywheel needed to be repalaced. But upon changing out the clutch, the fly wheel was fine, so my suspissions point to the starter. The problem may be the part that engages the fly wheel doesnt do it fully due to age or somthing. I mean, my car is 20 years old. But if the flywheel were the culprit, then wouldn't the car not ever start if the starter was engaging the bad part of the flywheel? Mine grinds the first time I turn the key, and then it turns over on the second try. Course, it doesn't do it all the time. But starting after gassing up is embarassing sometimes...

 

lol its not so bad. i started with the kermit avatar, and it got jacked. so i made this one to poke fun at manntis the ghostly canadian, and im getting jacked again! time for a new one
hows this one?

 

How did you get into my bathroom!!!

 

unscrewed the taillights from the outside cause it was made in 79

 

T.J.'s right- There'a plate right behind the carb. You can just udo the coils and have someonetry to start it. I think it goes slow enough for you to see the teeth. Surely you'll notice a broken one.

The "broken flywheel teeth" is A BULLSHIT DEAL!!!
Any mechanic saying that as a definite thing and not just a possibility needs a good slap in the head!

The starter teeth are made softer than the flywheel teeth. They do this on purpose so that you won't bust the flywheel ring gear. That's right- It's a big thin ring gear that is heat shrunk onto the flywheel. (...as RotorMotorDriver says- "Ask me how I know!")
To break a tooth off the ring gear would more than likely crack it, and it could come loose from the flywheel - maybe even in pieces...very fast pieces!

You should probably remove the starter and see if the bendix comes all the way out smoothly. Obviously if the teeth are all worn down on the front corners it's time for a new one.
Get your core charge refund.

 

LOL, you must have a square-drive screwdriver, then.

 

[QUOTE] time for a new one hows this one?

Whew.. thank you for pointing the camera UP..

Dana Carvey voice: I think I'm gonna hurl!!!

---

P.S: Thanks, Sterling, I'll check it out.
Where IS that freakin' beer smilie..

 

ha do i? i've got security torx and security allen in all sizes, i work in prisons.....
good luck keepin me out hehe

now where exactly is that plate?

 

hahahaha...that's ******' hilarious!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by genrex

Quote:

time for a new one hows this one?

Whew.. thank you for pointing the camera UP..

Dana Carvey voice: I think I'm gonna hurl!!!

see im not as ugly as my av would have you think
and yes im quite good at makin funny faces. and have wicked bed head at 5:30 every single day when i wake up for work

 

Very well put!
My compliments on the thoughtfulness of your post.
I'm also glad someone finally said the "broken teeth" scenario was B.S.
The dealerships totally suck, our local dealership doesn't know squat about rotaries, they don't even work on 'em anymore!

 

I worked with a guy who hit an unseen speed bump last summer with a 1970+ Vega, causing it to bottom out. Somehow, he busted some teeth off the flywheel(so he says). Once in a while, the starter had no teeth to engage, so he had to put it in gear and push the car forward so the flywheel would rotate.





J/K

 

...It most certainly can happen, and I've heard a story or two. But seems like everytime I hear what a mechanic has to say, it's always that the flywheel needs to be replaced.

"...And uh, while we'll have take your tranny out anyway, how old is yer clutch?"