Stripped flywheel or starter in one spot?

[JHZR2]

Was driving my 96 Ram today, and went to start it after an errand. Instead of the usual diesel crank, I got a high speed whirring sound. I let go of the key, and tried again, very normal crank.

Never had that happen before. Is it a potential sign of something in there being stripped?

 

[FowVay]

It's a sign of a failing starter solenoid.

 

[Lubener]

There is a problem with the Bendix gear on the starter. Best to replace the starter instead of repairing the starter ASAP before your flywheel gets damaged.

 

[Trav]

+1 If there was no grinding noise it sounds like a failing drive on the starter or possibly depending on the starter design a weak solenoid. Pull it yesterday.

 

[ragtoplvr]

It is the starter drive. This starter is known for that. The battery gets weak, the solenoid starts to chatter. The contacts wear. It sticks for a bit. This wears out the drive. The starter motor part seems to never wear out, it can get burned up from the solenoid, but wear out is rare. Get a new starter. check, clean, replace battery and cables.

Rod

 

[wpod]

Inspect the starter and flywheel teeth will wear with a 4 cyl on 2 spots, a 6 cyl on 3 spots and a v8 4 spots.

 

[Leo99]

Happened to my old Corolla. Then a few times the starter gear didn't retract and was hitting the fly wheel. Rebuilt starter fixed the problem.

 

[JHZR2]

It is the starter drive. This starter is known for that. The battery gets weak, the solenoid starts to chatter. The contacts wear. It sticks for a bit. This wears out the drive. The starter motor part seems to never wear out, it can get burned up from the solenoid, but wear out is rare. Get a new starter. check, clean, replace battery and cables.

Rod

The batteries when I got the truck were mismatched, undersized, and not great. So this is very plausible. I have new batteries that are cranking great, and new terminals all around... But the damage could have been done...

 

[JHZR2]

Inspect the starter and flywheel teeth will wear with a 4 cyl on 2 spots, a 6 cyl on 3 spots and a v8 4 spots.

That is a good point. I know I can bar the engine over, but one time I had a hard time doing so. May have been user error, but it may have been a low spot too (?).

 

[Jetronic]

Inspect the starter and flywheel teeth will wear with a 4 cyl on 2 spots, a 6 cyl on 3 spots and a v8 4 spots.

Yes I have taken the toothed ring off a 4 cyl flywheel and put it back 90 degrees further. It looked like I could swap the toothed ring over aswell and have another 2 wear spots.