Why doesn't the car start when I turn the key?
When I turn the key, I hear a spinning, whirring sound. The car won't turn over.
Bad starter or broken teeth on the flywheel. The starter drive gear engages the flywheel to turn over the engine by literally moving forward when you turn the ignition key. If the gear stops popping out for some reason, usually a worn out starter, the gear just spins and that's what you're hearing. The other, less likely possibility, is broken teeth on the flywheel. When this happens the starter gear will pop out like it's supposed to but since the teeth on the flywheel are missing the gear will have nothing to engage with so it just spins. Again, not turning the engine over. Hopefully the picture below will help you visualize how the starter should engage the flywheel. Hope that helps! Jim
