Bendix will not engage

volvo24209 · Post by **volvo24209** » 19 Jun 2009, 12:32

My 1999 volvo S-80 T6 starter is not engaging this make the 2nd starter I have put on the car. The engine will not turn when the starter is engaged. I have turned the engine by hand and it turns fine. It seems the Bendix is not engaging as it should.The starter when engaging has a high pitch sound. Is it possible for more than 2 starters to be bad. This is a ignorant problem I have never run across a problem like this. HELP HELP I am going nuts on this.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 19 Jun 2009, 13:39

Welcome to MVS.
I hope you find a solution.
You might want to consider changing your "signature." It appears that it's a dotted line that made your post a one liner- all the way across the page and about a mile long. I edited your post so it's easier for others to read.
MIJ

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 19 Jun 2009, 13:41

The high pitched whine would indicate that the motor is coming up to speed. It's not likely two different starters have bad Bendixs (although it has been known to happen). Maybe your ring gear is bad. Can you take the starter off and look through the opening? See if you can see any damaged teeth on the ring gear. My stepson's truck had this same problem. A bad Bendix had damaged teeth on the ring gear and there were several places on it that would not engage. If the engine happened to stop lined up in one of those places it could not be started again. He would have to put the truck in gear (manual transmission) and push it a small distance to move the ring gear to a good spot, then he could start it. We wound up replacing the whole flywheel.

Post by **dcarlson12** » 19 Jun 2009, 15:57

Kind of drifting off topic but this is the problem I had with the first car I ever owned. It was piece of junk from Britain. A Ford Anglia. You know the one that they fly around in in the Harry Potter movie(s). Also driven by cops on the British TV series 'Heart Beat'. Well in any case, the ring gear of that car was shrunk onto the flywheel. In my case, the shrink was obviously a bit loose because the ring gear eventually pivoted on two opposing spots so that it was like an orbit which had gone off kilter. Eventually it was tilted so much that the starter bendix gear could not 'reach' and engage the ring gear. I would have to put the car into fourth gear and rock it so that the flywheel rotated far enough to get past the 'bad' area. This car went thru two clutches in less than fifty thousand miles and it would pop out of fourth gear when I tried to accelerate up a hill and loaded the transmission. What a piece of crappy British Engineering.... Sorry to go so far off topic but it is Friday afternoon............
Hopefully this isn't the problem with your car. But who knows?

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 19 Jun 2009, 16:55

dcarlson12 wrote:Kind of drifting off topic but this is the problem I had with the first car I ever owned. It was piece of junk from Britain. A Ford Anglia.

My Dad had one of those. I thought it was so cool when I was a kid. But then I didn't have to fix it . . .

usslockwoodff1064 · Post by **usslockwoodff1064** » 18 Jul 2019, 13:26

I first noticed problem with my 99 volvo s80 that the starter would engage flywheel then full spin without engaging,i then replaced starter twice but starter does not engage at all now.I had both starters tested at auto stores and they said they were both good,checked flywheel but no damage to any gears.any suggestions would surely help my sanity!

Post by **MoVolvos** » 18 Jul 2019, 15:52

usslockwoodff1064 wrote: ↑18 Jul 2019, 13:26 I first noticed problem with my 99 volvo s80 that the starter would engage flywheel then full spin without engaging,i then replaced starter twice but starter does not engage at all now.I had both starters tested at auto stores and they said they were both good,checked flywheel but no damage to any gears.any suggestions would surely help my sanity!

Make sure you watch them do the testing.

How to Test Your Car's Starter and Solenoid Assembly