Starter spinning but not catching

[Lanorg]

Restarting after a rebuild (tranny rebuild, engine never came apart - tb was never touched).

Plug battery in and there's a strange electric high pitched whirring sound from under the intake manifold - maybe not enough coolant yet? Don't have a vacuum maker to refill coolant levels.

Anyway, I try to start and the engine doesn't turn over but the starter seems to spin but does not make contact with the flywheel. Is this even possible? Doesn't the solenoid force the starter to press and mesh with the flywheel teeth?

I am expecting this to be a joke of a fix or the engine to have to come out again. I've learned this car. Just hoping there might be something I'm overlooking like crank sensor or battery... open to suggestions. Maybe I plugged somethings in the wrong way? Where does the CPS plug into - how do I confirm it's connected correctly for the start procedure?

Plan is to get the engine to turn over to cycle oil (fuel pump fuse is pulled) and then I'll attempt start up. Thanks guys.

[christianb5s4]

That high pitched whirring sound is the auxiliary coolant pump, as for the starter you can have someone try starting the car while you're underneath. You will be able to see if the starter is engaging with the flywheel teeth.

[Zba]

That high pitched whirring sound is the auxiliary coolant pump, as for the starter you can have someone try starting the car while you're underneath. You will be able to see if the starter is engaging with the flywheel teeth.

Or just watch the belt drive up front. Depending on how long the car was out of service for it's possible the lifters bled down and aren't opening any valves. If the motor spins but it sounds like no compression (steady whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr sound) just floor the gas pedal and keep on cranking.

[Tjtalan]

My starter just did this the last time my clutch was done. It would spin without engaging consistently with the battery connected. The contacts on my starter had stuck, I gave it a good hit and its been fine since.

[redline380]

Hit starter NOT the solenoid with hammer. Go from there. Could be broken spring too

[christianb5s4]

What zba said, that's what I experienced during the first start after my build.

[Lanorg]

What zba said, that's what I experienced during the first start after my build.

The belt does not spin because the solenoid does not engage the starter teeth with the flywheel. I added more coolant after bleeding some air out of the bleed screw on the coolant tub towards the front of bank 2(drivers side) of the engine and the high pitched whir became fan blades hitting water and then silent. Awesome, thats fixed.

The starter require a fred flinstone whack - without hitting the little solenoid. Got it.

Last question. Should I take the starter apart and clean the contacts inside anyway since it's out? Everything about the 2.7 is a "well since i'm in there" perspective I feel.

And you asked how long its been sitting... almost a year. I stopped driving it last fall - last fuel up was september my logs state. I pulled the engine and tranny in October, flew to California in January and ordered jhm synchros. Collected the laundry list of equipment and random pipe to do the 01e synchros in February. Did the 01e work in march and april. May I said WTF and had the turbo journals replaced as well as the seal plates. June I started putting it back together. July I had the brakes resurfaced. August I went on vacation and am still planning on completing this rebuild.

Still in the "it's gonna be great, just wait" mentality. Next purchase will be a hoist. No question.

Oh, different topic. My slave cylinder refuses to bleed to the point that fluid comes out. I had someone press the clutch while i bled from underneath but nothing but air comes out. Check all 4 corners and the brakes bleed just fine. Any suggestions? Leaving it sit level overnight doesn't bleed it. Brand new slave cylinder. Yes I should start a new thread.