Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Starter and Flywheel

I sometimes get a grinding noise, much like that you would hear if you engaged the starter when the engine is running, when I try to start the car. I have read that this is a bad gear on the starter or flywheel, how could I check this myself? Thx in advance

Check out this current thread.

http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=trouble&Number=986271&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=1

Do you have a manual tranny or automatic?

In my auto, there is a small access panel under the car that you can remove to look at the "flex plate" - which is the ATX version of the flywheel. I have a section of my flex plate on my Mercury that was all ground up, the dealer I bought the car from sent me a new plate, starter, and I did the work myself. WHAT A PAIN! Never again will I do that!

To check the teeth on the starter, you'll have to remove it. Not a simple job on an automatic equipped V-6 car.