Had a really rough start the other day. Drove home now it just makes a buzzing sound where the starter is. Took off the starter and tested it. All good

Took off the battery. All good

Advanced auto parts suggested it could be the fly wheel.
This is a real pain in the butt.

 

Not discounting that it could be the flywheel, but the cited parts store throws all kinds of flags on credibility based on my experience.

Assuming the same store tested the starter, just gots to question whether the bendix was checked to be fully thrown out and retracted - that is, the gear thingie went fully and smoothly out and fully back, not erratically hanging up in its travel.

All relating to a similar issue here wayback, found the gear hanging up on its sliding travel.

Back in the day, this bendix was an available piece-part separate from a complete starter, with related savings. Nowadays, no idea on its availability.

Not overlooking the possibility of the starter solenoid hanging up, keeping everything engaged...

 

All that sounds like gibberish to me unfortunately. Never heard of a Bendix. Is the solenoid separate from the starter?

 

Ok - starter motor itself just goes round and round.

What I call the bendix is the extra mechanics included in the starter assembly that extends the starter gear into the flywheel gear while the starter motor is energized to roll the motor over, then retracts the gear when de-energized so not to back-drive the starter while the motor is running.

Usually a spring is used to retract, so the extending force has to be enough to overcome this spring as well as shove the starter gear into the flywheel gear. The spring has to be strong enough to get the starter gear away from the flywheel. Challenge is other mechanical interference such as a sticking starter gear slide, which prevents full engagement or disengagement.

Only one solenoid to energize the starter motor and related bendix action. Concern is that if this bendix movement does not completely engage or disengage from the flywheel, might-could be the resulting buzzing noises.

 

Ok that makes much more sense. So even with auto parts testing my starter and saying it's good, it good be bad? I saw them hook it up and it started right up. Should I buy one and put it on/ keep the receipt and return it if it doesn't work?

 

no parts store will take any part especially an electrical part back if it's been installed, most of them have a core charge meaning you have to return your old one or you get to pay anywhere from and extra 30-100 bucks depending on what it is

 

Hold up there. As the previous commenter has suggested, warranty and returns on electrical stuff generally applies only if that new part is defective, not whether it did or didn't solve your problem.

Consider having your current starter retested, bumping it several times and specifically watching for the gear to fully extend and retract smoothly and solidly without hesitation each time.

Also, may look at the edges of the starter and flywheel gears for any fresh signs of rubbing or any other type of excessive wear that looks new. Another thought is to try to pry the gear outward / extended with a couple screwdrivers or such to get a feel whether the spring is weak or perhaps broken - starter electrically disconnected, of course. Key thought is to find something wrong with the current part before replacing, although shotgunning parts is a means of last resort for shortages of time and excesses of money.

 

I wonder if the starter isn't staying electrically engaged when the key is in the run position. Two ways to test this: If the starter is reinstalled and you start the engine and the noise is still there, pull that little slip on wire off the fender mounted solenoid and see if the noise quits. Way#2: If the starter is still off, pull that same slip on wire off on the fender mounted solenoid and turn the key to the start position and release it back to the run position leaving it there, then check to see if there is power going through said wire.