Re: Starter Went Bad?

Posted by JD in KC On 2012/6/18 22:38:58

As HH56 says, it sounds like the starter didn't disengage from the flywheel when the engine started. With the design of that starter (I'm assuming you have the same one I have on my 356), if the yoke lever that pushes the pinion and overrunning clutch jams in any position other than fully engaged, there is no way that the starter can be activated from the starter switch. It will appear dead. If the overrunning clutch is as dirty as mine was, it may not have functioned properly and may have allowed the engine to spin the starter via the reduction gear which would probably have been pretty noisy. Or... all the noise may just have been the overrunning clutch doing its job.

You need to pull the starter and take a look to see what malfunctioned and what (if anything) was damaged.

It's heavy.

What's the general condition of your engine compartment wiring?