Loony

One thing after another with this car.

I just got the head gaskets replaced. Then they told me it needs a CTS before I start driving it again, yea no problem. I buy it, and they didn't even plug the old one in. So I go to start the car to see if the old sensor actually works and...the starter just spins. It spins full speed, it's just not popping out to meet the flywheel. At first I thought my batter was the problem, because the gauge dropped a lot. I jumped the car with my dad's truck and...it still happens. WTF? What is wrong with this ****ing thing?

LesPaulGoth

Hrm, sounds like they managed to somehow eff up your starter...how, I haven't the slightest idea.

Beat on it with a hammer and see how that works.

...no, I'm serious, beat the crap out of it to see if you can get the gear to disengage from it's starting point.

shock6906

Don't beat the crap out of it, just give it a firm hit. Don't act like you're trying to damage it is what I'm saying.

pcgamer4life

You could try jumping the two terminals on the starter with a flathead screwdriver or something to rule out your ignition switch as the culprit. Generally when the drive gear doesn't extend, then the thing barely spins at all, let alone with force to turn the engine over. It's odd that it's spinning fine and the gear just isn't popping out. Give it a firm smack, and if that doesn't work... trace wiring and make sure that it's all in tact. I work at autozone and have never seen a starter come in that passes all tests except the gear extension test. Take it off and take it to an autoparts store, they'll run 4 individual tests on it for free and can probably determine whether it's bad or not.

Loony

I hit it with a ratchet a couple times to no avail.

It worked a few times after I got the car back. It's parked on a pretty steep hill ATM, getting under there would be hard.

mmmchickenboy

sounds like the solenoid is stuck. remove starter --> replace solenoid --> reinstall starter.

pcgamer4life

I'd get it tested before replacing anything...

mmmchickenboy

is this an LT1 or LS1 or V6?

Loony

Ah, thought I said this. LT1.

It's on my driveway, which is a hill , but I'm going to try and get it off today and maybe take it to Autozone, do they test starters?

pcgamer4life

Yeah, they test them for free.