Grinding/streaking stutter when trying to start a 2006 deville. What is the cure for that? and can it be fixed immediatelyit be done immediately

Question

When I try to start my 2006 Cadillac deville, the starter seems like it is free spinning, and grinding on something causing, almost a screeching type of sound. Can that be fixed easily and immediately to start the car? Because that's all it does every time I try to start. Is there any other way I can start the automatic 2006 Cadillac deville?

Answer 1

The most likely issue here is that the starter is faulty and needs replacing.

One possible fault is that the starter pinion teeth have been damaged like in this photo -

It may be that the mechanism on the starter motor that throws this pinon into the matching teeth on the flywheel is not working correctly. This could be due to a seized bendix or a faulty solenoid mechanism.

There is also a very small chance that the starter motor mounting bolts have become loose so the pinion is no longer meeting the flywheel teeth correctly.

Finally, there may be a section of damaged teeth on the flywheel that the starter motor pinion meshes with. This photo shows a section of good teeth on the flywheel viewed at the starter motor mounting location.

It is generally a relatively simple job to replace a starter motor. It is best not to repeat the grinding of the teeth, since replacing the flywheel is a much bigger job and repeated grinding may damage the flywheel teeth.

If the issue is due to a damaged section of teeth on the flywheel, it may be possible to first turn the engine a little using a wrench on the front pulley, so that a good section of teeth meet the starter pinion when you try to start the engine.