Bad Bendix?
OK here is the situation, my son has a 1998 Dodge 1500 p/u. It will not crank. It buzzes or sometimes clicks but does not turn the engine. So far we've tested the battery with a DMM, it read 12.4 b...
Forum Discussion
Typically a weak battery will not present as a free spinning starter that doesn't engage (sticky or bad Bendix)
That's why vehicles with even almost dead batteries still "try" to turn over the engine.
How could the parts store say it tests out fine even though the gear doesn't engage? Or did it engage on the bench test?
If it engaged on the test but not in the truck, then the more likely culprit is the flex plate is missing some teeth and the starter has nothing to catch. Bar the engine over a few degrees and try again to confirm or rule out that issue.
If it is the starter, no point in "repairing it" on a 20 year old truck. It's a cheap part that has pretty much lived it's life by now.
That's why vehicles with even almost dead batteries still "try" to turn over the engine.
How could the parts store say it tests out fine even though the gear doesn't engage? Or did it engage on the bench test?
If it engaged on the test but not in the truck, then the more likely culprit is the flex plate is missing some teeth and the starter has nothing to catch. Bar the engine over a few degrees and try again to confirm or rule out that issue.
If it is the starter, no point in "repairing it" on a 20 year old truck. It's a cheap part that has pretty much lived it's life by now.
