Hello everyone, I am not new to the car scene at all, but defiantly new to the rotary. The issue I'm having is not really the motor itself, more the starter.

any advice would be GREATLY appreciated

I was outside idling my car letting it warm up when I realized I had forgotten my wallet inside. I turned the car off, found my wallet. I return to the car, stick the key in, Boom. Starter grind. The starter sounds like it is free spinning against the flywheel. I became worried about the motor and push started it (Because its a manual) car runs great. drove it like this for several days because racecar. I lifted the car up, Inspected the flywheel which has no damage or teeth missing, spins, and also does turn the motor when it is spun. I now thought it forsure is my starter. I contacted the local Rotary man in town and picked up a USED starter from him. Put it in the car, exact same thing. He told me that "Its probably a bad grounding on the car" so I then got a Starter tester which uses its own battery completely separate from the car. starter makes the exact same noise and gets very hot after 10 seconds of trying to start and making the same grinding noise. I then contacted him and we switched starters again. Only to find the exact same issue AGAIN.

After trying the starter you can see the contact point on the flywheel.

I have checked the wiring all is good
Vehicle is properly grounded
Starter gear does come out and spin when given power

I do believe (as well as a mechanic in the trade for 20 years the starter is grinding AGAINST the flywheel and is not meshing into it.)

Please help me, I would really appreciate any feedback

 

Think you may have answered your own quesiton hope the top right hand corner of the pic adds some light

 

Thanks for the response "Yehreally" Appreciate the feedback.

From what I understand, you aswell believe that it is the starter. If so, do you believe both starters are junk, or do you think that I need to do some adjusting of the starter. My debate is maybe the starter is strong enough to push itself into the flywheel just the teeth are hitting each other.
If that sounds crazy you let me know^^ I'm a overthinker.

What starter would you recommend?

I'm thinking that if one were to shave the gear smaller, the clearance would become more tolerable between teeth, or if a person could slide the starter farther away from the flywheel the teeth would not mesh as tightly. Then maybe the gear would be able to push itself forward far enough?

 

Question ..maybe SARGE can answer this as it is on my mind.

IS the starter the correct starter?..
DOES the FD have 2 starters..ONE for Manual and one for AUTO..and are they the same or Different?

*( I know that FC starters differ between N/A and Turbo but the AUTO can be used on a Turbo.It has to do with Gear count on the flywheel and starter gear,.so that is what is leading me to think that maybe your FD has 2 starters for application and the wrong one may be in use.)

 

To add to this, my FD3S is Manual Turbo, The starter I have been given has 13 teeth on it, and has the solenoid at the top of the starter confirming it is for a JDM model.

 

Where would you recommend I buy a good FD3S starter? Preferably something new so I know it will 110% work.

 

You could try the faithful Rock Auto ..
OR browse the Forum for a used one off of one of the many trusted sellers.Look at their Itrader feedback.

 

Think maybe you need a new flywheel, not a new starter? Post a pic of the starter motors side by side to show any wear on the teeth

 

Unfortunately I handed that starter in as a core to get the other starter I now have. The teeth didn't look abused to bad, but did have a little bit of shaving at the front of the gear, the part that would first touch the flywheel.

 

Update:

bought a a brand new Turbo Starter from rock auto, I just received it and will Be trying it this weekend.

Note on on the old starters:

I have been giving them seperate power from another source so we know it is not wiring. Also we know that both of
those starters do come out and spin but won't mesh into the flywheel. Also the fly wheel spins freely, has no wobble, and appears to be in good shape

wish me luck. Will keep you updated

 

chances of 3 starters doing the same thing are slim, since you used a battery outside the car and it also did it, i would bet the flywheel is the issue since you have an aftermarket one.

if the flywheel ring gear isn't staked, studded or actually part of the assembly itself then it may be spinning free of the flywheel itself. just because you can turn the flywheel with the ring gear doesn't mean it isn't freewheeling with the much more powerful than your arm, starter motor.

 

^^Listen to this man. He's one of the best rotary engine builders around^^


One thing my untrained eye noticed is that the teeth on Joshuas starter look much smaller/possibly worn than the teeth in yehreally's pic.

Maybe it's the angle, but they look about half as tall with wider spacing.

 

Very well said. thankyou for your feedback. To check that the flywheel is in fact not stacked or studded properly I assume I will have to remove the transmission correct?

Also, how do you know that my flywheel Is aftermarket?

Once again thankyou so much for the feedback you Guys are great

 

I will post a picture of the comparison in 2 days when I can go work on it at the shop.

thankyou for your feedback

 

To update everyone wondering.

the Flywheel and Ring Gear have become seperated, not broken just seperated. Took the transmission apart already, and new parts are on the way.

 

You owe RE some girl scout cookies lol

 

There's also the upgrade of the RX-8 starter into the RX-7, theres YouTube videos explaining the process to make it fit, looks pretty easy. Though this is just an upgrade and wouldn't fix the ring gear/flywheel issue.