starter grinding - 7mge engine - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

dansawyer · 03-21-2007, 10:57 AM

The starter started grinding on a 7-mge engine. It does not make the sound all the time. It seems worse just when the engine starts. However there is some sound intermittently when the engine is cranking. The sound is higher frequency with a bit of a tin component component to it.

The battery is new, fully charged, and the cables are clean.

Does anyone have a similar experience? What was the outcome?

Thanks,
Dan

***toyomoho*** · 03-21-2007, 07:43 PM

Might be the ring gear teeth are damaged in one area. This results in a mix of trouble free and grinding starts. You can pull the starter, rotate the engine and look at the ring gear and starter motor teeth.

dansawyer · 03-21-2007, 08:37 PM

If it the ring gear can that be replaced in the vehicle? I just replaced the engine (myself). As part of that I pulled the ring gear to replace the rear oil seal. It was good at that time and I have the old block so I have the part. Can the transmission be dropped in the vehicle? I assume that is much easier the the engine. (that was a bear)

- Dan