my car wont start! HELP!

[thereisnoyun]

so I think the car was cranked. when the car was still in reverse... lets just say that was what happened. I didnt do it. Just saying if. someone were to crank the car while its in reverese gear, and then made horrible grinding sound, from teh starter. Then now, the car wouldnt start at all, and the starter sound become less and less everytime I tryto crank it. What has happened. ? Is it as simple as a dead starter?

[RedHoodRidah]

so I think the car was cranked. when the car was still in reverse... lets just say that was what happened. I didnt do it. Just saying if. someone were to crank the car while its in reverese gear, and then made horrible grinding sound, from teh starter. Then now, the car wouldnt start at all, and the starter sound become less and less everytime I tryto crank it. What has happened. ? Is it as simple as a dead starter?

Pinion Gear on starter got cleaned off or the teeth on a spot on the flywheel.

[thereisnoyun]

I'm going to try to pop the clutch tmr, and see if I can get it to start down the hill. If it can, then its just the starter. If its the flywheel... then fuck.

[zedfez]

If there are teeth missing on the flywheel, I believe it should still push start. I don't think that will tell you anything diagnostically.

[RedHoodRidah]

If there are teeth missing on the flywheel, I believe it should still push start. I don't think that will tell you anything diagnostically.

[thereisnoyun]

k new development for you gurus to diagnose.

initially..

cranking in reverse - hear a crunching sound, like the gears are being rip off
shift it out of gear cranked it again - more crunching
this morning cranking it - hear a free spinning starter? whirling noise, but doesnt even try to start or engage. Is this the starter? or could it still be the fly wheel?

I assume it could possibly the flywheel teeth, since the starter may have strip the flywheel teeth entirely. I guess I can figure that out when I pull the starter, but since its sub-zero out here, I kind of want to diagnose before I run out side to do it. I dont have a garage unforunately.

-Yun

[thereisnoyun]

if the flywheel is stuck, will the car be able to roll?

[zedfez]

If the flywheel is stuck the car will roll when not in gear. I don't know what it would be stuck on. From what you have said, it could still be either one, or both, that have damaged gear teeth. I don't think there is any way to know without looking at both the starter and the flywheel.

[Knockenwelle]

Turn the motor over a bit and try again.

[thereisnoyun]

UPDATE:
I got the car up on ramp, and turns out....

the top bolt on the starter wasnt even there, and the force of the crank, broke the bottom mounting point on the starter off... like snapped off entirely from the housing.

So the starter was literally hanging around and dangling... so I'll replace the starter and see how it goes.

[SpecM]

what year is your car?

if its an early Motronic (84-87), it needs those flywheel teeth to time the enigne

[thereisnoyun]

91, put in a starter, starts right up, and the sound went away. It was really difficult accessing the top bolt. But after figure it out, it was actually pretty easy, and a stubby racheting is your friend here.