1st of all nice site guys
so my pal has an 86 Civic. It wouldn't start for him yesterday, makes spin noise and not grabbing, so he put in a new starter today & won't start unless,
he un-mounts the starter then puts it back, it grabs and starts.
So like the knee joints connected to the..leg bone.
the starter is connected to the...? ? thats connected to the trany?
so some sort of fly wheel,
I think he said the "ring something" may need to be replaced.
So if the starter is good, what needs to be replaced/repaired for the lil' honda to get started again?
milage is around 260,000 kms
thanks for your help in advance

 

If the starter was spinning but the engine isn't turning over, the only think i could think of is that teeth on the flywheel/ring gear have been ground down to nothing. ALthough you should be able to see the flywheel when you install the starter.

 

in one part of the post you said it grabs and starts. (???).

first, clean battery terminals and cable ends. it may be that the battery is low.
to check that, take the battery to an auto parts store that has a battery tester.

 

What is this spin noise exactly? Does it sound like the starter is actually spinning or does is it a clicking sound?

 

thanks for the prompt responce guys
so I'm not to sure what the exact sounds were, 'cuse I'm not at the car, but he said it was a wizzzzz sound insted of the normal starter sound.
"Ring Gear" sounds right, I'm sure thats what he said...
So is a ring gear a part of the starter, or is that a seperate part, and can that be easily replaced.
And would the flywheel need replacing too?
thanks for your time...

 

The ring gear is pressed onto/permanantly attached to the flywheel. It is not part of the starter. The starter pinion gear engages the ring gear and turns the ring gear. The ring gear/flywheel is attached to the crankshaft. When the flywheel turns, the crankshaft also turns. It could be that there is a problem with the flywheel but it is more likely that you have a problem with your battery like fglaustin said.

 

so my buddy told me he sent the car to Capt. Crunch.
I said "you did what!"
o-well his loss for giving up so quickly on the little honda.
So thanks for your time guys and I'll stay a part of this cool honda community 'cuse my girlfriend has a 96 civic si.
So I'm sure I'll have some questions down the road with this cool lil' honda.
Cheers buds