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The starter will not engage the flywheel?

Tiny
RD66
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
Okay, I have a stumper here. The battery is new. Flywheel is good. Turned the motor with a screwdriver on the flywheel so the engine turns okay.
If you take the starter off the engine and lay it on the frame while it's still wired it will engage and spin like it should.
But when it's mounted to the engine it will spin but not engage the flywheel. I thought it was a bad solenoid so I replaced the whole starter. It's getting 12v to the wires. Battery wire is hot all the time and the wire that plugs into
The solenoid is getting 12v with the key in the start position. Thought maybe it was a ground issue so I ran a temporary cable from the battery negative to the mounting bolt on the starter.
but it made no difference. Any ideas?
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Friday, December 15th, 2023 AT 8:15 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,978 POSTS
If you put a meter on the battery and hit the key, what does the voltage drop to? You can try using jumper cables like you did with the ground but on the hot side. GM battery cables like to corrode inside the insulation. It sounds like the amperage isn't getting to the starter. You might measure 12 v+ with a meter but not have a good current path. The starter is the highest draw item on the vehicle but a poor connection will stop current flow, so it doesn't function.
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Friday, December 15th, 2023 AT 11:13 PM
Tiny
RD66
  • MEMBER
  • 61 POSTS
Thanks, I will let you know what happens.
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Saturday, December 16th, 2023 AT 12:36 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,904 POSTS
STEVE W. Is one of our best please let us know, we want to get this fixed for you.
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Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 AT 12:36 PM
Tiny
RD66
  • MEMBER
  • 61 POSTS
Help is no longer needed thanks.
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Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 AT 7:41 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,978 POSTS
What was the issue? It may help others with a similar problem.
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Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 AT 11:26 PM
Tiny
RD66
  • MEMBER
  • 61 POSTS
It was not resolved. The owner decided to do something else because they found metal shavings in the engine.
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Saturday, December 23rd, 2023 AT 12:23 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,978 POSTS
Yeah, that would stop me as well. Sorry to hear that.
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Saturday, December 23rd, 2023 AT 10:00 AM

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