Car keeps eating starters!

Asked by Maximus Nov 13, 2020 at 05:13 PM about the 2000 Ford Windstar Cargo Base

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Hi everyone, minivan keeps eating starters. Upon key
turn either a semi loud clunk noise or no engagement.
All connections seem good, deep charged top CAA 850
battery only a year old. Pretty competent just can't figure
out what is causing this. Additional clue: must start in
neutral so I know I've got a neutral safety switch issue.
What is the possible cause here? Any help is greatly
appreciated! Thanks!

2 Answers
157,615

James answered 4 years ago

A clunk is usually an indication of broken teeth on the flywheel. Remove the flywheel cover and inspect the flywheel. Also make sure you have the correct starter drive to flywheel ring gear clearance. You might have to shim the starter to get the correct clearance. Hope that helps! Jim

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homewrecker71968 answered 4 years ago

Having to start your rig in neutral is a dead give away that neut safety switch is trash, there is a backing plate on engine back if it wasn't reinstalled saying after a rear mainseal it will allow the bendix to insert to far into ring gear a failing ignition switch or solenoid (pre 2000) could be a secondary issue

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