ERA Cobra Will Not Start - Tracing the Issue

[GoFast1965]

I'm asking some help from this fantastic community. My relatively new to me ERA Cobra will not start. Below is some context.

This weekend we started it up for a drive and it was making a high pitched whine almost like a super charger. I backed out of the garage and it continued. We shut it down in the driveway and it would not restart - just a single click from the starter solenoid relay on the firewall.

Here is what I've done so far.
1. Battery is fully charged and tests at 12.6 volts.
2. I show 12.6 volts at the starter solenoid relay input.
3. I show 12.6 volts at the starter solenoid relay output when the ignition is turned to start.
4. I show 12.6 volts at the starter solenoid attached to the starter when the ignition is turned to start.

My current thinking is:
Either the starter solenoid or the starter itself has died. Is there a way to confirm before I start removing the starter/solenoid assembly? I hate to do so and then find out the problem is elsewhere.

Thank you for any guidance

[NROTOXIN]

Check to see if the starter is disengaged from the flywheel.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by NROTOXIN

Check to see if the starter is disengaged from the flywheel.

I agree.

[GoFast1965]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I agree.

How exactly would you go about confirming the starter is disengaged from the flywheel? Is removing the starter assembly the only way to confirm this?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by GoFast1965

How exactly would you go about confirming the starter is disengaged from the flywheel? Is removing the starter assembly the only way to confirm this?

Well that's a good question. First I would peek inside the clutch fork hole in the bellhousing and see if the flywheel teeth look really shiny as if they've recently been spinning against the starter. Then I would put my hand on the starter while somebody turned the crankshaft using a socket on the crank bolt to see if I could feel it binding over. Finally, I'd pull the starter off.

[NROTOXIN]

Depends, if you don't have visibility of the flywheel then maybe just loosening the starter bolts will provide an answer where you can hear it snap back.

[DanEC]

If a Lakewood or QuickTime bellhousing you will have to pull the starter but the starter drive may retract in the process. If it has an OEM bell housing you can remove the inspection plate to see if it’s still engaged. If the starter isn’t making any noise I would use a volt meter to see if the starter solenoid on the ignition terminal (not the battery lead) to see if it is getting any power to it when the key is turned. Or you could use a test light just to verify power to the solenoid. If it is then it’s got to be something in the starter solenoid.

[patrickt]

I can peek inside my Lakewood BH fork hole and inspect the teeth on my flywheel. Here's a crappy pic of just that:

[GoFast1965]

Well crud. I pulled the starter. I don’t think it was still engaged with the flywheel, but the pinion gear is all chewed up, see picture.



So I definitely need to get the starter and solenoid tested. And need to replace the pinion gear.

The flywheel feels a little rough, but is not chewed up like the pinion gear.

[patrickt]

Well that's not the end of the world. I've had a $50 OEM starter in my FE for the last 20 years.

[GoFast1965]

I tested the starter and solenoid. Turns out the solenoid is not functioning properly. So, fingers crossed, a few part replacements should do the trick.

[GoFast1965]

Thank you all for your help and guidance!

[1795]

Based upon the limited view of the teeth on the starter gear, it looks like it may not have been properly aligned when installed and was not kicking back far enough. Are the teeth showing signs of wear further back? It looks like the ends were chewed off, which would suggest that it was only partially engaging and that is why they were torn off. It's hard to tell, because there is not a good view of the teeth further back to see if they are shiny.

[GoFast1965]

Originally Posted by 1795

Based upon the limited view of the teeth on the starter gear, it looks like it may not have been properly aligned when installed and was not kicking back far enough. Are the teeth showing signs of wear further back? It looks like the ends were chewed off, which would suggest that it was only partially engaging and that is why they were torn off. It's hard to tell, because there is not a good view of the teeth further back to see if they are shiny.

@1795 I think you’re right Here are a couple of better pictures that make it look like the pinion gear was only engaging about half the way with the flywheel. Once I get the new parts, is there an easy was to adjust the engagement depth of the pinion gear?

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/pict...ictureid=21408

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/pict...ictureid=21407

[TKlauber]

I had somewhat of the reverse happen with my starter on my FE 427 SO. The starter is similar to the one on Patrick's Cobra and the pinion gear was travelling too far into the flywheel and the face of the bearing was getting chewed up fairly quickly. I put a round shim in to move the starter out away from the flywheel