Starter groan

[FastWoman]

Hi all,

I just got my '78. I've been a bit concerned about the starter. It cranks the engine just fine, but it doesn't sound like any other starter I've had in any other car, including my old '75 Z. When the engine starts, and I turn the key back to IGN, disengaging the starter, the starter "groans" as it winds down. This lasts maybe a second, maybe less. I had hoped this noise would go away with a bit of use and general de-cobwebbing; however, it hasn't. My old '75 280Z's starter sounded like any other starter I've had, in that it didn't groan after I let go of the key. (Or at least I don't remember it having done that.)

Is a groan normal as the starter winds down?

Do the '78 and '75 280Z models have different starter systems?

Thanks!

Peace,

Sarah

[NissanMaster]

Hi Sarah, Sounds like your starter may be on the way out internally,if you dont have a grinding when cranking then you probably still have a flywheel ring gear that's in good shape.If your 280 is still starting fine just ride it out until you start getting a click/no start,if your concerned about a no start situation then drop a reman unit in.A good battery/starter tester will get you a little more insight on your cables & battery.on 280z's always pay close attention to those fuse links under the plastic covers at the passenger fender,they corrode and make other power supply issues,Good Luck! Vince

[FastWoman]

Thanks, Vince. :-)

There's no grinding noise, and the starter cranks the engine just fine. I guess the bearings in the starter are getting sloppy, then?

In any event, is there any hazard to the ring gear, as long as I don't hear any grinding noises?

[sblake01]

Do the '78 and '75 280Z models have different starter systems?

Yes, they do. The 78 was the first year to use the gear reduction starter.

[NissanMaster]

Hi Sarah,Probably not but pulling the trans is more than a 5 minute job so go with your gut on this one,a few years back rebuild parts where available pretty cheap so I threw a new drive gear in my 280 and it was A OK. It's pretty simple to heat up the ring gear and swap out if you discover the teeth are ground down,if you inspect the drive gear you'll see wear only occurs in several areas because thats where the engine always stops (usually 3 areas)when you pull the starter use a 1/2 breaker bar and slowly turn the motor over by hand watching the teeth as they rotate by the starter drive opening,If the teeth look like minimal wear your good to go! I wouldn't stress,score a Nissan reman starter and you'll be gold! Talk to Ya, Vince

[WW2Winger]

Don't mean to hyjack the thread, but where can I find a gear reduction starter? Courtesy says they are NLA. Thanks all!

[FastWoman]

I hadn't seen your question until now, WW2. I think you can still get a GR starter rebuilt at any local auto parts store, but I don't know whether it's possible to get a new starter.

Anyway, over these past couple of years, the unwinding groan has slowly diminished, although it's still there. HOWEVER, I have found out the answer to my question on our Chrysler powerboat. The bendix gear got stuck on the ring gear, and the starter made that same groan until the thing retracted. So I think my answer is that the bendix gear is a bit sluggish to retract -- but as I said, less so lately. I don't think it's an issue for ring gear wear. I never hear any grinding. I guess I'll try to clean/lube the thing up when I have some spare time.

[Zed Head]

My 76 starter (old-style non-reduction type) made a kind of shouting "look-at-me" kind of groan after starting, for a little while. I took it out,took it apart, spent an hour or two looking for some sign of what could make the noise while cleaning things up, then saw that the bushing in the nose of the starter housing was pushing out. It was about half-way out and must have been letting the shaft vibrate and chatter inside the bushing. It looked like a bronze bushing press-fit in to the aluminum housing. I tapped it back in, staked it once with a punch to hold it, greased it up, reinstalled it and the noise was gone.