Starter whirring, engine not starting?

Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 KIA FORTE
  • 2.0L
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
I totaled my car, but I replaced everything that was broken. Radiator, A/C, upper and lower intake, and the starter. The starter wasn’t completely broken, but the housing where the solenoid is was cracked so it was loosely hanging off of the starter. I had the alternator, starter, and battery checked and they’re all good. The flex plate teeth looked fine, but when I tried to turn the engine manually, it turned way too easily just by using a socket on the crankshaft. The engine started once then stalled out a few seconds later. Now it won’t start but you can hear the starter whirring. Fuel pump is priming, spark plugs are fine, but engine will not crank. I can just hear the starter spinning.
Saturday, February 24th, 2024 AT 5:27 AM

18 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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It sounds like the starter is bad (the Bendix is not pushing outwards) but if you upload a short video of the problem I can tell for sure. "solenoid is was cracked so it was loosely hanging off of the starter" so this can cause the problem, here is how to change out the starter correctly. Check out the images (below). Please upload videos in your response to the problem so we can see what's going on.
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Saturday, February 24th, 2024 AT 9:52 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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I already changed the starter, and had it tested before I put it on in the car.
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Saturday, February 24th, 2024 AT 11:42 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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The starter works just fine. I saw it during the test.
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Saturday, February 24th, 2024 AT 11:43 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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When the starter is working does the balancer of the engine rotate?
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Saturday, February 24th, 2024 AT 1:27 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Yes
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Sunday, March 3rd, 2024 AT 12:57 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Everything rotates when the starter is trying to start the car.
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Thursday, March 7th, 2024 AT 5:44 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
  • MEMBER
  • 323 POSTS
I thought it was maybe spark or fuel but both of those are okay so I thought maybe it was the inertia switch but then I found out that my car doesn’t have an inertia switch, so I’m stumped.
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Thursday, March 7th, 2024 AT 5:46 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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So, it has fuel and spark, we should check the compression, this guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

I changed your status so I would get notified when you responded, I hope that is okay.

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Friday, March 8th, 2024 AT 8:45 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
  • MEMBER
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I replaced the upper and lower intake after the accident. What else could’ve been damaged that I didn't see? Like could the broken intake have damaged something else that I didn’t catch?
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Saturday, March 9th, 2024 AT 2:59 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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It is possible, what does the engine sound like when cranking and did you do the compression test?
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Sunday, March 10th, 2024 AT 10:55 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
  • MEMBER
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It doesn’t crank that’s the issue. The starter just spins and no I haven’t done the compression test yet. I was thinking maybe the flywheel teeth got damaged when the solenoid broke off of the starter from the impact.
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 AT 6:12 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Oh, and I took the valve cover off and nothing in the timing is broken or loose or anything.
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 AT 7:59 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Okay, let's remove the starter and with a flashlight look at the teeth on the flex plate. You can upload an image of the teeth so I can see if needed.
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 AT 9:27 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Here’s a picture.
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Thursday, March 14th, 2024 AT 3:50 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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The flex plate looks good, it must be a defective starter motor, I would try another.
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Friday, March 15th, 2024 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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It ended up being the flex plate. It got chipped when the starter broke in the accident. I didn’t have anywhere to keep the car while I changed the flex plate, so I had to junk it. Bummer.
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Friday, April 12th, 2024 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Anyways, thanks for troubleshooting with me. I’m always thankful for your guys’ help.
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Friday, April 12th, 2024 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for letting us know, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Friday, April 12th, 2024 AT 6:00 PM

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