[Gravis]

Basics: 2004 SE-R Automatic, just replaced the starter last week.

So this problem has been getting worse. What will happen is this. I go to start the car, and instead of the starter engaging and starting up as usual, about 30% of the time it just grinds on the flywheel, about 30% of the time it starts to crank and then grinds on the flywheel, and about 30-40% of the time it starts normally. I had the starter replaced (which I'm sort of regretting since that didn't fix the problem), and now it's back to square one.

The shop says it's the flywheel, which I believe. However, here's my question that I can't find the answer to (because google is useless when searching for this kind of answer it seems...): if I am going to pay to replace the flywheel, does it behoove me to get a better one like a JWT? Remember, my car is automatic. Second question, assuming that yes, it is a good idea, will this one work?

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/partdetails/Jim_Wolf/Flywheels/Flywheels//4972

...or do I need a different one since it's an Automatic? I can't seem to find this information anywhere and I don't want to ask the auto shop because they will likely tell me whatever they want to make money off me.

Final question: If I can't use that one in the link above, can someone point me to a good replacement for a 2004 automatic SE-R? I'd rather buy it online then have it put in...much cheaper that way.

Thanks in advance...sorry if I broke any forum laws or whatever. I researched, I just came to a dead end.

 

[i68k]

from what youre saying, your mechanic is correct. everytime you turn the key to start, the starter engages as its supposed to. if youre hearing grinding, either the starter is incorrect/installed incorrectly, or the teeth on either the start OR the flywheel are grinded, once the teeth are grinded down, they will never full meet and you will have a grinding issue until the teeth no longer grab each other.

as far as changing to a lightweight flywheel, i dont think this would be a good idea. this will change your rev hang, your shift points, or other problems. if the fly is only a few pounds lighter, you should be ok, but it will affect the shift points, assuming the manual and automatic flywheels are the same. you will need some type of afr or throttle controller to accomodate for a overly light flywheel.