Flywheel Starter Issues

[Unreal]

Hey guys,

I just had a bunch of work done to my 300Z. New clutch, flywheel, transmission, and one piece driveshaft. However, the car no longer starts and my mechanic and I believe that it's because of the fidanza flywheel. Does anyone have any clue how to remedy this problem? You can hear the starter spin, however it just won't start

[MinisterofDOOM]

Is the fidanza flywheel the same size as stock? I'd contact Fidanza and see if it's supposed to work with the stock starter location.

[mtcookson]

Do you have a twin turbo Z or NA? If NA its not likely an incorrect flywheel as the NA flywheel is the smaller of the two. It could just be the starter itself, may be that the solenoid or bendix is acting up, which is what engages the starter with the flywheel. When either goes bad it will cause the exact problem you're having where its not engaging but is spinning.

[Unreal]

Well it turns out it's the inncorrect flywheel. It blew the starter to bits and the teeth on the flywheel are obliterated.

Thanks Specialty Z for awesome shipping!

[mtcookson]

That's interesting... do you know which one they sent you?

[Unreal]

I wanted an RPS non-turbo but what I suspect I got is a Fidanza Turbo

[Unreal]

Alright, so the flywheel isn't the problem, it's something else. I had the flywheel replaced with a Fidanza, and had problems. I put a OEM flywheel in, and replaced the starter and I still have the problem...

The transmission came with the car so I'm wondering if it might be a turbo transmission which is making the starter and flywheel not match up?

If it could be, how can I tell? Is there a serial # on the transmission that I can look up? I have a service manual.

[Unreal]

Bump?

[mtcookson]

Sorry for the delay, I somehow missed the post.

I'm not sure what the easiest way to check would be maybe besides measuring the thickness of the starter mounting point, the TT's should be a tiny bit thicker I believe to make up for the slightly larger TT flywheel.

I suppose if you had the TT transmission with the NA flywheel it could potentially not mesh with the starter properly causing the teeth to break. If you can, measure the thickness of the starter "flange" and I'll compare that to the TT trannies I have. I do have an NA transmission but its in a car at the moment so won't be able to measure it. Maybe we can figure something out based on that. That's all I can think of at the moment.

[Unreal]

Well I decided to throw the old transmission back into the car. I am hoping the grinding that was in the transmission was because the clutch was so bad. Lets see how it goes.

I am assuming it didn't mesh because the turbo flywheel is larger making the starters position slightly farther out. I just hope I can get this car back. I've been driving a tundra, which I really shouldn't complain about

[mtcookson]

Yeah, I bet the starter gear slammed into the flywheel causing the destruction.

[Unreal]

Yea my mechanic called and thought there was no difference at first. Then he took some time and saw that they are slightly different. Thanks Nissan, for the matching bell housing and no difference to the untrained and even trained eye