Starter whirring, engine not starting?

2010 KIA FORTE
150,000 MILES • 2.0L • AUTOMATIC
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ARIANADANIELLE5345
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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.
Feb 24, 2024 at 5:27 AM
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STRAILER
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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.

Feb 24, 2024 at 9:52 AM
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ARIANADANIELLE5345
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I already changed the starter, and had it tested before I put it on in the car.
Feb 24, 2024 at 11:42 AM
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ARIANADANIELLE5345
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The starter works just fine. I saw it during the test.
Feb 24, 2024 at 11:43 AM
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STRAILER
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When the starter is working does the balancer of the engine rotate?
Feb 24, 2024 at 1:27 PM
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ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Yes
Mar 3, 2024 at 12:57 PM
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ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Everything rotates when the starter is trying to start the car.
Mar 7, 2024 at 5:44 PM
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ARIANADANIELLE5345
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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.
Mar 7, 2024 at 5:46 PM
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STRAILER
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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.

Mar 8, 2024 at 8:45 AM
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ARIANADANIELLE5345
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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?
Mar 9, 2024 at 2:59 PM
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STRAILER
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It is possible, what does the engine sound like when cranking and did you do the compression test?
Mar 10, 2024 at 10:55 AM
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ARIANADANIELLE5345
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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.
Mar 13, 2024 at 6:12 AM
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ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Oh, and i took the valve cover off and nothing in the timing is broken or loose or anything.
Mar 13, 2024 at 7:59 AM
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STRAILER
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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.
Mar 13, 2024 at 9:27 AM
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ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Here’s a picture.
Mar 14, 2024 at 3:50 PM
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STRAILER
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The flex plate looks good, it must be a defective starter motor, I would try another.
Mar 15, 2024 at 9:35 AM
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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.
Apr 12, 2024 at 6:57 AM
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ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Anyways, thanks for troubleshooting with me. I’m always thankful for your guys’ help.
Apr 12, 2024 at 6:57 AM
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STRAILER
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Thanks for letting us know, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
Apr 12, 2024 at 6:00 PM
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