Tinkering, Part 5

This is a short story, but it ain't so sweet.

While waiting for my partner in crime to show up last night, I finished connecting all the things to connect in the engine compartment: shroud seal, coil wires, oil/temp sender harness, alternator, thermistor, starter harness, grounding straps.... We got the air cleaner assembly in place, replaced the spare tire, and reconnected the battery.

Then it was time to go under the car and torque the suspension components we had loosened, which we did: strut rod bolts and strut rod to diff brackets. The only task remaining under the car was to remove the leaking back-up light switch. This was uneventful, and I now have a nice, new, nonleaking, working switch.

After that, I torqued the rear motor mount bolts, reinstalled the motor mount cover, and we replaced the rear valence and grilles.

At this point, it was time to put the car on the ground.

Finally, the moment of truth. I got in the car, pumped the gas more than I probably needed to. The car started, but did not sound like it was running on all cylinders, I suspect because it was partially flooded. At this point, I decided to open the overhead door lest we asphyxiate. I hopped back in the car, took a couple more stabs at starting it, and jumped the gun on one of my starts. The starter engaged before the motor had completely stopped and there was this horrendous grinding noise. Now I either get that or the whirr of an unengaged starter.

I assume that I trashed the It's-Not-A-Bendix-But-That's-What-Everyone-Calls-It. I suspect the solenoid may also be an issue since sometimes I just got a whirr.

During the summer I debated about replacing the starter. It has never sounded strong to me. After last night I decided that I want that unit off my car and so I ordered a remanufactured one. (Sorry, Smitty.) Next week, we will put the new starter in, and our programming, already in progress, will resume.