Gold/Brass dust in transmission & starter

[Adrew19]

Ok so I've been trouble shooting starting issues with my 2001 XC70 and recently got it back from a Volvo technician who was suspecting issues with the flywheel due to the fact that when the car is cranking the engine speed jumps all over the place as it tries to find TDC (then fails to do so lol). His diagnosis was that the teeth are either worn down on the flexplate or it's warped. So I just popped the starter off to investigate and found what looks like gold dust all over that area (pics).

Any thoughts on what might be causing this? I'm gearing up to pull the transmission off if needed, pretty annoying since the previous owner had it was replaced in 2018 by a local shop.

[abscate]

I think there is a brass bushing in the starter that might be puking pieces into that area. Pull the starter and inspect carefully. I don’t think anything in the torque converter or flex plate is brass.

[Krons]

I’m with Abscate…starters are relatively cheap and most with lifetime warranty. Throw a new one in and see if problem goes away. Job is half done already too!

[jonesg]

the starter gear is sacrificial, thats why its brass, its much softer than the flywheel.
A loaf of bread cannot cut a knife.

[cn90]

That starter motor is probably aftermarket. Likely O'Reilly stuff.

If one waits long enough, then one will see the stripped gear in the starter motor. By that time, all you hear is loud noise from the starter spinning, but the engine does not turn over.

I'd get a good used starter motor (Genuine Volvo) from a local junk yard or eBay bc the vast majority of starters at local parts store are Chinese.

There is a split year around 2007...so up to 2006 starter should fit your 2001 model.

[vtl]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007Y85MFE Bought two of them, for two wagons. The one I have is still going strong since 2019. Remanufactured Bosch didn't look great back then, with all that black paint sprayed over rust. New OE starter was out of question for its insane price.