Hi Everyone,

I have a 1999 Dodge Durango and have been having issues starting it. It's been sitting around for like 8 months now, and just recently since spring hit, I've been trying to fix it. I am a paraplegic, so I've been using my nephews as my arms/legs to do the testing and stuff but we can't seem to figure it out.

Anyhow here's the main problem as of now. When you turn the key to start the car, you can hear the starter spin, but it doesn't engage the engine. The starter was rebuilt recently, and has a year warranty on it, and we brought it back to get tested a few days ago and it was said to be good. We also did the jumper cable test on the starter and it seemed to be working fine, spinning and the bendix seems to be popping out fine. We put it in again, and same thing. We checked the fly wheel teeth (from what we could see) and they weren't worn or broken. We've tried changing the battery. Changing the starter relays around. Does anyone have any ideas?

A mechanic friend (who hasn't had time to come check it out) said that the engine could be seized, but we don't have the right tool to turn the engine to see if this is the case.

Anyways, some questions:
If the bendix is working properly, it should pop out and catch the flywheel and turn it. If the engine is seized, will the flywheel turn? If the flywheel doesn't turn, should you still hear the starter spin?

Thanks in advance!

 

If you can hear the starter spin, it sounds to me like it is NOT extending out to engage the flywheel. If it were, you would be hearing the motor turn over as well.

An engaged starter to flywheel WILL turn the motor. A seized motor would not turn at all if the flywheel is engaged. The seize would prevent it from turning.

My remote diagnostic is the started may be turning but not popping out to engage the flywheel. When they doubled checked the starter, they didn't look to see if it was moving in and out OR it was when off the truck but not properly installed when on the truck to allow it to do so.

Good luck,

IndyDurango

 

Thanks for your response IndyDurango.

My nephews and I checked the starter ourselves by rigging it with a battery and jumper cables, and the bendix does in fact spin and pop out. I'm really doubting and hoping that the engine isn't seized too, because it ran great before the starter went out.

 

But, is it popping out far enough to engage the flywheel?

I think your problem is the stater period.

 

BTW<------- Welcome to the forum!

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is popping out as far as it can. I also called the person who rebuilt my starter and he said to test turn the engine to make sure it's not that also.

Thank you!

 

Does anyone know the size of the wrench I would need in order to test turn the engine?

 

If the engine was seized the starter wouldn't turn. The shear fact that the starter is engaging and that you are sure the gears are lining up and it is turning then it would HAVE to turn the engine.

If the starter is turning and the engine is not then it isn't touching the flywheel. Maybe the rebuilder did not install the chims right and not allowing the gear to come in contact with the flywheel. The flywheel cannot turn without turning the motor unless the flywheel bolts are broken. Even then the flywheel wouldn't look right and you could see it. Here is a picture of what it should look like looking into the bell housing. The flywheel is blue in color:
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Remove the starter and start at square one. Here is a DIY I did.... https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...-and-5-2l.html

Take it to autozone or parts place that have a bench test area and make sure it is opperating correctly.

Here is a DIY I did on the starter of a 5.9L which sould be the same on a 5.2L......By the way, what motor are we working on?

 

If not enough voltage is getting to the starter then it might not fully engage with the flywheel. You can try to jump it to prove that one wrong.

Not sure on the crank bolt head but I'm guessing 15/16.

We need to know the motor size?

 

Yeah this was what I was wondering too, because you can hear the starter make a whizzing sound, as if it's spinning. And it doesn't stop until you turn the key off. No other sounds, like metal grinding or anything, just a whizzing sound. After I get the correct tool to turn the engine, I'll try to take the starter to autozone. Thanks again!

My engine is a 5.9L V8 SFI.