4 replies to this topic

[Keith Novak]

After installing a new crate motor and doing the quick start up, leak check etc., I loaded the car on the trailer, which was the first time I got the revs up a bit. Just after getting it up over the hump, the engine died. There were banging noises in the loading process but that’s typical with the ramps on my trailer so something could have randomly busted, or it could just be the ramps clanging.

I tried to restart it on the trailer, and there was just a whirring noise with no sign of cranking, and no “click“ I’d expect with a mostly dead battery where there‘s enough juice to extend the starter but not turn it. My driveway is on a slope where I loaded the car and where I tried to restart it, but when I backed the trailer down into the driveway where it’s level, the car started and sounded fine for a couple seconds, but then an awful intermittent rattling noise on the RHS. Oil P still at 50. Temp never got over 90.

The only things I can think of that are on that side of the car with moving parts are the starter and the alt. The whirring noise at an angle and then rattling noise when flat makes me think something broke in the starter and the gear is moving around, but it does (did) still start sitting flat. Maybe with the car tipped nose up the gear was interfering with the flywheel and something in there was jammed and then sitting level, the rattling noise is the gear hitting the flywheel occasionally?

Anyone have experience with what starters do when they let go or other parts that have the same symptoms? I'm guessing the starter is going to be a PITA to R&R with the motor in.

[dstevens]

Removing the starter on the chick car isn't that bad. I hear that's how they'll look at your flywheel in tech. Not familiar enough yet with the Miata start but on the stock cars that whirring was usually the shaft turning and either the gear broken or the solenoid not having enough ummph or getting bound and not engaging.

[dmathias]

Possibly the starter is not flush in its mount, and/or loose? The starter is not difficult to R&R. Put the car on stands and pull the RF wheel. You can access through the wheel well and from underneath.

[tony senese]

Pull the starter (from underneath) only 3 bolts and the hot wire and ignition coil wire. MAKE SURE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY OR KILL SWITCH as mentioned above, check the gear. If it's ok reinstall making sure all 3 bolts are seated correctly. It's very easy to get the starter in a little bit loose with the motor in the car, so be careful to check this. I always remove the RHS wheel so I can look around and reach through to hook back up the electrical. Good Luck!

[Keith Novak]

Interesting closure on this (I hope). We'll be sure soon, but it seems it may have been nothing more than a bad ground. Loading it on the trailer must have been just enough to jiggle something causing the car to run really rough and vibrate the trailer which was what made all the clanking noises. The starter wasn't it. I checked all nuts, bolts, hoses, wires etc. and everything seemed fine. I checked all the grounds which were tight and seemed clean but then remembering some Dave W advice, I installed those little sharp star shaped washers under all the ground connections and it seems to be running fine now.

Important lessons learned...don't try to diagnose horrible noises while the car is on the trailer and just because your grounds are tight, doesn't mean it's a good connection. Thanks for the help even though I was looking in the wrong place after all!