2007 Taurus starter grinds

The car starts normally most of the time but occasionally when you engage the starter it will make a grinding noise and not turn the engine. It sounds like it would if you engaged the starter on an already running engine. I just changed the starter motor with a "new" not rebuilt unit and the problem remains. The problem started at about 38000 miles. The car now has 46,000 miles.

When you had the starter out did you take a look at the mating teeth on the flywheel?

-Rod

No I didn't. I thought that since it usually grinds just once and then starts normally after cycling the ignition switch that the flywheel wasn't the problem. I have had it grind as many as three consecutive times before starting.

On some GM V6 engines it used to be quite common that they would require shims to keep them from grinding, but I've never heard that being an issue on a Ford. Bad teeth on the flywheel though could certainly cause the grinding just as easily (probably more so) than the starter or starter alignment.

-Rod

Interesting, my 2000 does this. I have always figured it was me causing it. My Taurus for lack of a better word surges. Surges when you shift into drive, surges while you are braked at a stoplight, etc. Well it also surges immediately when turning the key-the darn thing fires up so quickly I sometimes leave the key turned too long and then that "scorch" happens. When I am concentrating on it, then I sometimes don't leave it turned long enough. Very touchy timing which I always thought was related to what happens past the key/ignition point of contact.

Thanks Rod I had thought of the flywheel but since the car had such low mileage when the problem started I went for the starter. I will try and check out the flywheel but without a lift it could be a problem trying to peer through the starter mount. This car comes with a 6 year warranty on the engine and tranny so if the flywheel is the problem I am hoping it's covered.

My dads taurus is doing the same thing you described. It will only do it every once in awhile. That grinding noise. Let off the ignition, then hit it again and it starts. Has every time so far. His is a 2005 model with the 3.0 FFE. I have checked the starter, battery and replaced the relay and the neutral safety switch. It has done this since they bought it with 20,000 miles on it, now has 90,000. The dealership replaced starter when they bought it, but did not fix problem. Just wondering if maybe the ignition switch? What else could be in the starter circuit?

My 2000 Taurus for lack of a better word surges. Surges when you shift into drive, surges while you are braked at a stoplight, etc. Well it also surges immediately when turning the key-the darn thing fires up so quickly...

It "surges" when you brake because it downshift into 1st before disengaging the clutches. It use engine compression brake. It "surges" also when you shift to D because the torque converter disengages brutally when it try to spin the transmission in gear.

It's normal, it's just a misconception of the PCM and transmission of this car. These problems was eliminated in ~2004 I think.

It surges when you start it because it burns too much fuel at start-up, so it starts fast. It's just designed like that. You feel the detonation of the big V6. You should stop turning key when rpm start to increase. Don't wait to ear engine started to let off the key.