Ok, my car won't start by key due to the starter gear hitting the starter ring. So, I maybe figured the starter ring could have been different. From what I remember, the turbo starter ring is 132 teeth. I counted exactly 132 tonight and still the car wont start by key. I have a turbo bellhousing and starter, both matching part numbers, what could be my problem then?

 

Is this a sudden occurrence or did you just do some work on the engine?

 

A gummy/sticking starter will grind on the ring gear as well. Have you tried a different starter?

 

@chris...I rebuilt the motor and when I put it in...I went to start it, the starter gear was grinding against the starter ring. @porschedoc...I bought two 951 starters and both do the same. Its literally just hitting the very tips of the teeth.

 

I can't be 100% certain but I seem to remember there is some sort of a spacer between the starter and the mounting to the bell housing. I looked on the PET but it did not show one so maybe I am just talking s#@t.

 

get some thin washers (whatever you can find) and put them in between the starter and bellhousing if you need this fixed quickly. When you torque the bolts down it will keep the starter from wobbling. I did this on my car for ~6 months before picking up one of the IMI high torque starters (which fixed the problem).

The problem was caused by (in my case) the main shaft on the starter being pushed out further than it was supposed to. If you look at the starter there is a little bit of the shaft on the outside edge, how much of that is showing? If its more than just the rolled edge, there's your problem. A new/different starter should fix this. I never found a way to fix this other than replacement, but getting one rebuilt might have the same effect.

 

It sounds like the issue is that ring & starter arent engaging enough vs engaging too much, correct? Putting a spacer on the starter will only push the starter out further and make the problem worse. Since you have tried multiple starters I would assume that the issue is not the starter and somehow the pressure plate is the issue.

 

But what about the pressure plate could be wrong? It look perfectly fine to me when I installed it

 

Are you sure the pressure plate you have is for a turbo? I know the bell housing between the 951 and n/a is slightly different around the starter mounting area and will cause problems similar to what you are having. Is it possible you put on a n/a pressure plate assuming the bell housing is correct?

The n/a and 951 starters are interchangable, though there is a difference on the ring gear also, the 951 is 132 i think and the n/a 130.

 

yea...I have 132 teeth. Now its just the whole teeth grinding situation that is killing me. I really want this car to start by key and it hurts watching her sit on jack stands in a garage..lol. I'm just running out of solutions here. I still am going to try to shim it and see if that does anything. What difference is between the pressure plates of a n/a and a turbo by the way??? Also, my friend was reading that the teeth have a different profile sometimes and you might have to interchange starters. I measured the thickness in the gap between the teeth on the starter ring and then I did the starter gear and it seems like the starter gear is a smidge thicker. It could just be my eyes and my mind thinking thats the problem, but it seem a bit thicker. I really appreciate you guys with the information by the way.

 

I had an issue with my starter ripping itself appart, turned out the ring gear was on upside down (nothing to do with me) so the bolts weren't countersunk and were sticking out too far.

Doesn't sound like the issue here but I thought I would chuck it in anyway.

 

Gotta be that you have a NA pressure plate on there. They are smaller than the turbo.

 

Are there different part numbers for the pressure plates?

 

The turbo pressure plate is 951.116.023.01 and n/a plate, 944.116.023.01

 

Is the part number on the side of the plate or is it facing the starter? Thanks for the part numbers btw!