Spinning noise when trying to start

[300z32]

Hello 300zx owners. I have this problem in my 1990 300zx n/a. Sometimes ( not all the time) when I try to start the car it makes this spinning noise, kinda like a power drill. When it first happened I looked around under the hood and couldn't really see anything. I put the parking brake down rolled it back and tried to start it again and it started. Anyone know why it made the spinning noise?

[itsa300zx]

Sticky pinion gear or faulty solenoid on the starter motor, replacing starter is the easy.

[Dvnrdrgz]

Sticky pinion gear or faulty solenoid on the starter motor, replacing starter is the easy.

I just replace the starter in my car today. And it is making a wierd / rubbing noise. anyone have any idea what that could be? Does the starter need to be shimmed? No shims came in the box. Could the starter be Misaligned?

[Dvnrdrgz]

Does the starter need to be shimmed????

[DCaff300ZX]

If the starter drive gear does not mesh correctly with the flywheel, then yes it needs shimming. However, this SHOULD only need be done if there is a TT flywheel and pressure plate in there instead of stock NA (as I did when doing my 5 speed swap), as this should be the only time there is a mismatch...hence no shims in your starter kit.

[Dvnrdrgz]

If the starter drive gear does not mesh correctly with the flywheel, then yes it needs shimming. However, this SHOULD only need be done if there is a TT flywheel and pressure plate in there instead of stock NA (as I did when doing my 5 speed swap), as this should be the only time there is a mismatch...hence no shims in your starter kit.

Is there a way for me to tell if this swap has been done? I just bought the car a month ago and don't really know the history of the car.

[aretwodetwo]

could it be missing teeth on the flywheel? after lots of jamming thousands of times the teeth on the flywheel have a tendency to chip/break/wear down which would explain why you can go a few feet (which rotates the flywheel a little if you're in gear to a different spot with better teeth) then the starter gear grabs the flywheel and your Z starts up. its possible to take off the starter motor and with the car in neutral take a screw driver and push the flywheel to see the condition of the teeth. that's just my approach

[Dvnrdrgz]

could it be missing teeth on the flywheel? after lots of jamming thousands of times the teeth on the flywheel have a tendency to chip/break/wear down which would explain why you can go a few feet (which rotates the flywheel a little if you're in gear to a different spot with better teeth) then the starter gear grabs the flywheel and your Z starts up. its possible to take off the starter motor and with the car in neutral take a screw driver and push the flywheel to see the condition of the teeth. that's just my approach

Starter solenoid wasn't engaging. That's why change the starter. Flywheel teeth are fine checked them before I put on the starter.

[nissanfreak12]

You sure the starter you installed is good?

[DCaff300ZX]

If the starter drive gear does not mesh correctly with the flywheel, then yes it needs shimming. However, this SHOULD only need be done if there is a TT flywheel and pressure plate in there instead of stock NA (as I did when doing my 5 speed swap), as this should be the only time there is a mismatch...hence no shims in your starter kit.

Is there a way for me to tell if this swap has been done? I just bought the car a month ago and don't really know the history of the car.

The only real test would be if the car starts without the clutch pedal depressed (no safety lockout), if so then it probably was an AT car swapped to 5 speed. The AT harness does not include the wiring for the safety lockout so that usually is not done during a swap.