What's up with this?

[Gordy]

What causes a 1.9 engine with an auto trans to make a loud screech from the starter motor not engaging properly? The starter is new so that should be good. It only occurs about once every 10 starts or so. Are the flex plate teeth bad in a certain area maybe or could the starter be a little mis-aligned? It can't be doing any good to the starter or the flex plate. Appreciate any advice on a cure.

[manta73wi]

Hi Gordy,
I got that same sound on my '73 Manta 1.9 automatic. Unfortunately, I know it well!! The starter checked out fine, but when we looked into the where the starter engages, the flexplate indeed had some worn/missing teeth. That "dztsing" screech sound in yours could be the same thing, so I would check the flexplate.
-Jeff W

[Bill Hoffmann]

Going back to when our '73 1900 automatic wagon was only a few years old, it started doing this. By the time my older sister started driving, it would happen so often that our normal routine was for me to get out and turn over the engine to a new spot by grabbing the fan, and she would try to crank it (not while my hands were in there). After much complaining my Dad took the car to the only Buick dealer that would deal with Opels anymore, Porter Buick in Media, PA, and their Opel mechanic Andy put in a new flex plate. That was in the early 80s. Anyone out there remember Andy? He used to part out Opels in the back and it seemed like every Opel owner in the Philadelphia area knew him. When the dealership was bought out and became Franzini Buick, he couldn't do much parting out anymore.

[Gordy]

That's what I thought it may be. Well the engine is coming out anyway so I guess it's not a big deal. The trans can be removed first once the engine is out and then the torque converter can be disconnected from the flex plate?