About a few months ago my Pulsar (e16) started making a grinding noise when I tried to start it. Someone said to check the ring gear but I have an automatic transmission so I know that's not it. Anyway I had replaced my starter last year since it kept sticking (it wasn't grinding or anything it just didn't move). So I was thinking the flywheel is likely bad. I took the starter off and checked it out. The starter is still perfect but the flywheel is starting to look like hell. So here's my questions:
1. Why does a flywheel wear out anyway? Is it likely just because it's 20 years old?
2. The car still starts up so far. I always turn the key very slowly and if I even faintly begin to hear it grind I shut it off and try again. If it sounds like it will grind it usually takes three tries to get it started. Most of the time though it starts up fine on the first try. So what kind of damage will be caused if I keep driving it this way? Is the only thing I have to worry about the eventual crapping out of the flywheel and being stuck somewhere with a car that won't start or can other parts become damaged because the flywheel is damaged? I intend to get it fixed soon but I want to make sure I'm not destroying other stuff in the car besides the flywheel.
3. What is involved in replacing the flywheel? I'm not a super knowledgeable mechanic. I can do some stuff (brakes, starter, alternator, suspension) but I don't know anything about engine or transmission work. How many things have to come off the car before I can even get to the flywheel? I'm guessing I'm going to have to pay someone to put it one for me. I think this repair will be out of my league.
My 82 e15 auto did that but it was cause I tried starting it when it was already running. Age I guess could play a role also check out the alignment of the starter see if there is any shims needed I don't believe so can't remember since I changed my starter almost 2 years ago. To change the flex=plate (which is what it is called on a auto) is a serious task you will either drop the tranny pull the engine or take both out the bottom of the car. You should not be doing any other damage to the car as long as it stops when the starter disengages. this might be a great time to pull the engine and reseal or rebuild it cause you will have full access to it. if you have a shop do it, it will cost a bit of money. hope this helps
inspect your flywheel and see if it is worn (the teeth on it).If your flywheel is missing any teeth that could be part of the problem , also if you plan on changing out your flywheel , change out your clutch while your down there,
far as installing a fly , get a manual and plan to spend at least 5 - 6 hours
(with breaks lol )for a inline motor it should be alot quicker...
I checked the flywheel through the top of the engine where I took the starter off. The flywheel is definitely chewed up but only in certain places. I'm not really interested in doing any major engine work while I have this repair going on since the engine was built up and put in about 4 years ago but this repair requires pulling engine out? I was thinking it just required taking the transmission off. Damn if I need both taken out this is going to be expensive. The part is only like $40.00.
yeah droppin the tranny would be an easier route....loosen up your motor mounts so you can give the motor a little height , so when your drop your tranny you'll have enough space to work with ...
you dont need to take the engine off ... pretty easy to do with a breaker bar make sure put some loctite (i use the blue medium one)on the bolt as they go throu the crank and may leak engine oil later on..
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Crazy !
Sentra Sport Coupe 87 Turbo
14.850@97.454mph
H&R Spring, 15psi, TMIC, 370cc, Nismo mount and pulley, Almasi tuned ecu...
In general ..... if you are going to change your flywheel , you need to take off the clutch and it's assembly anyways , so inspect your clutch and if it needs changing , do it. It's better to get to it now then later on the the line!
Most of you need to reread the first two posts first he has an automatic tranny and was just calling the flex-plate a flywheel out of ignorance(no insult intended) I assume it is fairly common So there is little reason to check the clutch also I said that he could either drop the tranny/ pull the engine/ or take out the pair as he sees fit. And the part being only 40 bucks you might want to ensure that they are not giving you the cost of a ring gear that would go on a flywheel cause I checked into a flex plate(a few years ago and it was thru nissan) and it was about 125 or so that is why mine still ground to the day I gave it away. Still does now actually.
Now I'm totally lost. I thought all cars had flywheels. You guys are saying an automatic doesn't have one? I called some transmission shops today to get some quotes and they all told me the car has a flywheel with a flexplate and that the manual Pulsar has a flywheel with a ring gear. I know nothing about transmissions! Anyway one place said they'd do it for about 400 to 450. That sound good? Everyone else wanted way more than that. They all said the same thing though, that the parts are still available brand new but that the only way to get them is from Nissan and that is what drove up the price. The part I thought was 40 bucks turned out to be something wrong.
you should get quotes from as many shops as you can .......
check out the shop itself , and work with what fits your budget best!
$450...that's pretty cheap , here in Hawaii you'll be lookin at about a grand.
Ok on engines with a manual tranny you have a big round hunk of metal that is solid and intended for the clutch to engage with. that is a flywheel it has a ring gear that is a small toothed metal ring that is pressed on to the flywheel so the stater can engage. On engines with an auto tranny you have a thin disc like item (kinda like a heavy duty garrbage can lid) that on the outside has teeth made into it that is a flex-plate. The torque converter bolts up to the flex-plate and that is what spins the tranny. That is the difference the part that was 40 I bet was the ring gear because it is a replacable piece. hope this clears up any confussion. Also 450 is not a bad price.
P.s don't feel dumn it is not very common that people really know the difference.
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