Q45 Starter Problem HELP!!

[theheff]

Ok, so a few days ago I started my Q (a 92) to move her into the garage and, upon parking, I accidently turned to key to "start" instead of off. This caused the wonderful shrieking sound, although I only engaged the starter for about half a second. Today I go to start her up, and the starter just seems to spin freely. Is it possible I stripped the starter gear? I have seen other cars take way more abuse in this fashion than this one instance-- I find it hard to believe the system is that delicate. Please help!

[Q45tech]

Only replaced 3 Q starters in about 7 years......out of 500 cars [90-93] It lasted thru the warranty [1997] and 6 years beyond. What more can you expect.

[Q451990]

I'm not entirely sure it's your starter. How cold was it when you moved your car? Also, have the timing chain guides been replaced?

Heath

[DougQ45]

If you can get to it, try tapping it lightly with a rubber mallet or some similar tool. Could be just frozen up.

[Q45tech]

Or simple KARMATIC punishment, machines sometimes seem to get even with their owners.............very few vehicle owners will get into machine heaven being stuck in pretaloka [world of ghosts and spirits].

SERIOUSLY: "I started my Q (a 92) to move her into the garage and, upon parking, I accidently turned to key to "start"

How long did it run from crank to turning it off ..........you may just have flooded it ............when you crank a Q you must leave it running for from 1-5 minutes depending on ambient temperature.

[Q451990]

Q45Tech... just a quick question. If it's flooded, why would it sound like the starter is spinning w/o catching? I've heard of that happening before with a flooded engine - but I'm not sure why it would do that - is it the lack of compression in the engine?

Heath

[theheff]

hey guys-- thanks for all your input. I figured it out. So while I was gone, my dad moved my car about 3 feet, so he starts the car, moves it, and then turns it off all in about 15 seconds. This basically didn't allow oil to coat the cylinders. Additionally, the rich starting conditions essentially cleansed the walls of any oil. All 8 cylinders had NO COMPRESSION. Thus, not just the starter, but the ENTIRE MOTOR was freewheelin along. zero pulsation when i turned the key. Anywhoo, I just pulled the plugs, squirted oil in (some nice thick stuff) to restore the sealing of the rings, and she fired right up.

Moral of the story-- don't let people who don't let cars fully warm up EVERY TIME THEY ARE STARTED have a key to your car.

--theheff

[DAEDALUS]

Glad it's all right, but wow, never woulda thought that.

[Q45tech]

Common in winter.

During COLD cranking the Q switches from sequential to batch [all injectors fire simultaneously for a few seconds]...........to get a slug of gasoline into the cylinders.

Not idling long enough to get out of this phase and allow all the gasoline to clear, then doing it again.

The Q injectors are big at 35 lbs/370cc and never get used at more than 55-60% of flow capacity except at the cold start......in theory they could squirt 3 cc per second EACH in the cold start. mode

[Q451990]

Great job heff! How cold was it in SoCal that day?

The Q is touchy about starting it cold. My friends always laugh when I let it run for 5 minutes or move it out of the garage to the other end of the driveway by driving it around the block, but I've never had one flood.

Heath