03 4.4 starter problems (kinda)
 

03 4.4 with 125k on it.

Starter began to randomly not engage the flywheel. So, I could hear the starter spinning, but the bendix gear not working. I replaced the starter with a reman and it worked four times, then had the same problem except never engaging the flywheel. So, I thought I had a bad starter out of the box. Replaced it again, and same thing. Worked for a day, then no more engage. I tried jumping the car from another thinking maybe batt voltage was low, but same problem.

So, at this point, looks like it's not a bad starter, not a bad battery.

Anyone have a similar issue? Anyone have a schematic of the car start system?

Thanks for any help!

If it is randomly engaging and you have replaced the starter four times. I would next look to the flywheel/flex plate to ensure it has all its teeth.

Sorry, forgot to add that the flywheel looks perfect. All teeth accounted for and it has never made any kind of grinding noise during starting.

Thanks!

Okay, I got a chance to crawl under the car again and poke around with a meter. It looks like there is no start signal to the solenoid (there is another wire connected to the starter motor that is energizing just the motor during start) so maybe a bad ignition switch?

Does anyone have a pinout of the ignition switch? I just need to know what color the start wire is to verify if its working or not

Thanks!

what was the out come??? I have this same exact problem, its killing me..

Welllll..... Turns out one of the wires where I bolted it on was shorting to the terminal next to it. (Not sure if this was the original problem, but this happened on my replacement.) it didn't look like this was happening but the metal from the lug next to it was just barely piercing through the heat shrink. So basically the shorted wire was engaging the starter but not allowing the bendix to engage. So I would just make sure the terminals are isolated from one another. It's hard because it's such a tight space.

Good luck!