When i go to crank the car the starter makes a sound like the bendix if it has one is just free turning and it is not turning over the motor is it the starter

Check and test for a failed bendix gear in starter --flywheel damage or motor seized

Hi, you just simply need to remove the starter and observe the fly wheel if the teeth are fine, if yes upen the starter and change the Bendix if the teeth of the Bendix are still good. An the Bendix is the part that meet with flywheel to turn the engine .

If the starter is spinning and not engaging the flywheel to start the car, suspect a defective starter drive clutch and starter replacement will be required

If the humming noise is more like a whirring sound, you have a bad starter-motor solonoid or "bendix."

First - open the hood and have one of you listen while the other tries the starter. If the starter motor makes a whirring sound but nothing else happens, it is certainly the "bendix."

The same switch that turns the motor on, also engages an electro-magnet (the bendix) that throws the starter motor gear out and engages the teeth in the motors flywheel thus allowing the electric starter motor to turn the engine over. When the engine starts, it spins the starter motor fast enough that it mechanically throws the starter gear back into the starter even before you release the starter and disengage the magnet.

OK - now that you know what it is, what do you do about it.

While the bendix can sometimes be cleaned and work a while longer, sometimes a really long time longer, it is seldom worth the effort to remove the starter mechanism, take it apart, clean and lubricate (with the proper lubricants) and re-install just to see if that will work.

Usually, the best solution is a new or rebuilt starter. You can get one on Amazon, Autozone, NAPA, etc. and the price will likely vary a lot. You can get one from the dealer as well but it may cost more than the car (some exaggeration). Check prices - they vary a lot, sometimes by as much as 2-3x. I think the original starter motor on your car is a Denso, but there are lots of good aftermarket starters available.

Starters are pretty easy to change. I suggest looking on youtube. Just make absolutely sure you disconnect your battery before starting this.

Changing the starter motor (the bendix is attached and comes with a rebuilt one) takes about 30 minutes or so on that car.

Basically, you disconnect the wires, unbolt the old one, slide it out, slide in the new one, bolt in in, and reconnect the wires. - then reconnect the battery and start the car.

Good luck.

If that was my symptom, I would remove the starter and have it tested at one of the chain auto parts stores.
They do it free and will likely have a replacement unit on hand.

This sounds like a motor with shorted windings; this would cause poor motor speed and a possible failure of the starter bendix to engage.

Description:

What is starter bendix Yahoo Answers

Likely either the starter or solenoid. Solenoid is a combination of relay and actuator, pushing the starter's gear into engagement with your flywheel.

i cant dope out that symptoms.

does it crank or not. be clear there.

no car starts (but my 6sp) if it dont crank.

on A/T cars cranking is a first thing. so does it.?

Solenoids do not spin, the stroke only , it a linear motion.

the Sol. moves the pinion and the main contactor switch only.



my guess is the Starter spins and the crank don\'t spin,

you hear the starter motor spin up, it sings. like bird.

that means the starter /solenoid are bad. (crude)

if the battery is good and or jumper starting off a running car.



It can just be a dirty starter pinion, clean it , repeat.

fixed many for this. i have.



battery cable lugs clean, and good. no green rust.

bad cable usually just make a loud THUNK sound. no spin.

Is the timing belt broken?

Try turning it over with a long ratchet
on the crank pulley or remove the covers
enough to get a look at the belt

Google some pictures of your motor & watch
some You Tube Video on timing belts

If the belt broke so goes the valves possibly

If I understand your statement correctly, noise but the engine will not "turn over." This sounds like the starter motor is running but the gear that engages the flywheel gear-teeth is not making contact at all or is moving into too-slight contact, just enough to make a lot of noise. In U.S. cars the device on the stater motor that moves the starter gear forward is called a "Bendix." As the starter motor starts to turn, the Bendix shoves a small gear forward, engaging teeth on the flywheel which spins the flywheel to start the engine. If the Bendix is sticking or has failed the gear will not move forward at all or not far enough.

Sarting with the least cost first, I'd look toward a "sticky" bendix. Try using a light penetrating oil or perhaps, WD-40 to free-up the Bendix.

this could either be caused by the solenoid valve or the bendix drive.

solenoid valve is attached to the starter, bendix drive is a set of gears being turned by the started while cranking