# Starter motor issues in old Ford

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-motor-issues-in-old-ford/189916>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [April 3, 2023, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-motor-issues-in-old-ford/189916 "2023-04-03T13:32:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jmcarc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@jmcarc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jmcarc)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-motor-issues-in-old-ford/189916/1 "2023-04-03T13:32:54Z")

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Quite often, when I start my 1982 Ford Granada, it doesn’t crank, but makes a scraping or grinding noise. I have to release the key and try it again until it cranks. I would like to know if the problem could be caused by something else besides the starter motor, such as a solenoid or worn gear.

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 1:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-motor-issues-in-old-ford/189916/2 "2023-04-03T13:37:51Z")

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> [@jmcarc](#):
>
> I would like to know if the problem could be caused by something else besides the starter motor, such as a solenoid or worn gear.

Yes …

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-motor-issues-in-old-ford/189916/3 "2023-04-03T14:03:26Z")

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Have the starter removed and check if the ring gear looks like this.

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/7/178fdd8925c690a9e4a75ecfc784d7136e5373d1.jpeg)

Tester

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-motor-issues-in-old-ford/189916/4 "2023-04-03T21:39:47Z")

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> [@jmcarc](#):
>
> I would like to know if the problem could be caused by something else besides the starter motor, such as a solenoid or worn gear

Unlikely. The noise you hear is the overrunning clutch in the starter drive slipping. Replace the starter.

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-motor-issues-in-old-ford/189916/5 "2023-04-03T23:40:56Z")

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Can’t speak to OP’s car, but the final drive mechanism is a relatively inexpensive replacement part for my 50 year old ford truck’s starter. 302 engine. I’ve never had to replace it, truck still has original starter motor. Tip: Good idea to keep your Ford’s battery fully charged, cranking attempts with a weak battery is hard on starters.