'87 TII, all stock (soon to have some exhaust changes and probably no more air pump, but all information up until today is based on a stock setup).

Car has issues starting up, I installed a fuel cut switch because the no start issue was so frequent. Motor pushes about 85 psi all around, so it's naturally prone to flood. The injectors are supposed to be clean as well as the tank, but it's hard to tell how clean. To get it started I usually have to turn the ignition on, crank a couple seconds with the fuel pump on, then flick it off and floor the gas to open the TB and flick the FP back on once it fires up, which it does pretty consistently. The issue I'm getting at here is that while cranking the starter seems to not mesh with the flywheel properly so it makes an awful noise and makes starting harder. Any ideas why or what to check? I've checked the power and ground to the starter and I don't think the solenoid switch line is getting 100% of 12V, could that be the issue? My last starter was also new, I replaced it under warranty a couple weeks ago because it would turn over at different speeds between cranking attempts. The newest starter does not do that, but it does do this grinding thing.

 

"Any ideas why or what to check?"

This is kind of important as I'd hate to burn up this starter or screw up my flywheel.

 

Are you sure you have the starter put in properly? I didn't think the stock starter needed shimmed, but could be? If it doesn't have the correct clearance, it's going to grind obviously.

 

I was asked that by the guys at O'Reilly's, too. To the best of my knowledge, no, it doesn't need to be shimmed. When I bought the car this summer it needed a new starter, so to get it running I brought a new one with me and we replaced it, then it gave issues like turning over at varying speeds (those speeds were usually just normal or slow, very little in-between) and not turning over at all. So I replaced that starter under warranty. I don't believe any of those starters had shims (including the one we pulled off at the place I bought the car). So I'm still not sure I guess, evidence says 'no shims', but does anyone happen to know?

Thanks for the good question, Ice_Wolf.

If I pulled the starter out to see where the gear has been meshing with the flywheel, where should it be? Right in the middle of the gear? On the outer or inner edge?