Can you solve this car problem?

[Alejandro Athie]

Hi Phil,

It's difficult to explain noises by describing them and even more by an 
email but I think I can give you a clue.

I think it's the starter pinion. At earlier times they found that the 
starter pinion has a tendency to move forward when the car slows down or 
when the brakes are applied due to its inertia. It then tries to engage the 
flywheel. If the engine is running, the flywheel throws it back and the 
cycle repeats. When the pinion is not rotating, the relative speed is higher 
until the pinion gets faster and then it will rotate proportional to engine 
rpms. The problem was cured by installing a weak spring against the starter 
pinion to keep it from moving forward and hitting the flywheel. When the 
starter is turned on with the engine at standstill the starter force 
combined with the bendix mechanism is strong enough to compress the weak 
spring and engage the starter pinion on the flywheel. Please refer to your 
service manual or to the Moss catalog, page 90.

In your case it might happen that the weak spring broke or got stuck and is 
not acting properly. I would suggest you to service the starter motor spring 
assembly. Have you noticed if it happens when you brake or slow down?

Please let me know if it makes sense and if that cured the problem.

Alex Athie
athiealejandro@hotmail.com

>From: "Jim McDermott" <jmcd206@msn.com>
>To: "Cascade-team-net List" <cahc@autox.team.net>
>CC: "Phil Daniels" <Phil.Daniels@METROKC.GOV>,        "Phil Daniels"  
><phil.daniels@metroke.gov>
>Subject: Can you solve this car problem?
>Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 08:20:09 -0700
>
>Jim,
>
>AS you may or may not remember, I have the 60 BRG BN7.
>
>We were going to go to Winthrop last Friday and got as far as Arlington.
>
>Maybe you can put this into the query list for me as I am not sure how to 
>get
>it into the e-mail.
>
>I have had a problem that has been very intermittent.
>
>I was driving along at about 60 and all of a sudden,
>
>I hear this strange noise,
>
>It sounds like a mechanical unwinding.
>
>A fast metallic clicking ( only clunkier)
>
>And then it seems to wind down in speed,
>
>Even though the engine speed is steady,
>
>And it settles to a speed in line with the speed of the engine,
>
>It then varies with engine speed.
>
>It is coming form the engine compartment,
>
>But to determine the exact location by noise seems impossible.
>
>Usually it stops on its own after a few seconds,
>
>Like about 20 to 30,
>
>But this time it continued as I coasted on the shoulder for another mile.
>
>I pulled the vale cover at the roadside,
>
>And could not find any thing abnormal,
>
>I then shut it off and let it sit for a few minutes while I kicked the 
>tires,
>
>AS has happened in the past,
>
>It went away when I restarted the engine,
>
>And I got it back to the garage.
>
>
>
>Now, I am not a mechanic by occupation,
>
>And troubleshooting a part time problem like this is frustrating,
>
>I felt that it may be the starter hanging up and partially releasing,
>
>This would account for it not always happening,
>
>The previous week we had driven over Stevens, Bluet and Snoqualmie without 
>any
>problems.
>
>However, the week before that we had driving out to Monroe and it happened
>there for about 20 seconds and cleared it self.
>
>Not a regular thing.
>
>
>
>I also thought maybe it was in the transmission,
>
>But not sure what it would be that would let loose like that and then self
>heal.
>
>
>
>Thought maybe it was in the timing chain, but again, why would it be self
>healing?
>
>(I tried to get the timing cover off, but ran into a problem removing the 
>dog
>not.  Any suggestions on getting it off?  Is it left hand thread?)
>
>
>I could use some suggestions if anyone has any history with this type of
>problem.
>
>Thanks for listening and will look forward to any input.
>
>
>
>
>
>Philip M. Daniels
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