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I'll start from the beginning...I went to start my 98 Honda Civic (AT) and discovered it doesn't work. It made a continuous screeching noise...not a click, click, click, like dead battery or a wobble sound like a dead battery. In trying to describe in words if you take the initial sound a starter might make, imagine that but just continuous. I replaced the starter and still the same problem. I replaced the battery and still the same problem. I had both the original and replacement starter hooked up to battery and the store jumped the solenoid and on both the starter kicked out and spun. So good starters. I can manually turn the engine so it's not stuck. I visually inspected the flywheel around the area and all teeth are intact. I'm now at a stand still and looking for words of advice. I'll take any and all suggestions. The part that confuses me is I'm still getting noise when I go to start it. To me this would indicate the mechanics of the starter are working but not spinning the flywheel. Unless this noise could be coming from somewhere else. Thanks in advance for any help. zancr@yahoo.com

 
Rep Power: 813

Did you check spark plugs?

 
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Check the alignment of the starter and flywheel.

 
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I didn't check the plugs, but wouldn't the engine at least turn over if the plugs were shot? In my case the engine won't turn over when I try to start. I can manually turn the engine but that's it. I was thinking about the ignition coil, but again, I would think the engine would at least turn over. Thanks.

 
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4drcivic, what's the best way to check the alignment. Also, when I manually turned the engine I did it with the fly wheel through the starter opening. I didn't feel anything loose or unusual.

 
Rep Power: 813

Are the plug wires okay? What about distributer?

 
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do a voltage drop test on your battery cables and alternator cables. Sounds like you might have some corrosion in them. You will need a DMM for it though. Basically if you have too much resistance in those wires, no voltage will travel through them.

 
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So the starter sounds like it is spining, you checked to see if it was a working starter,the mototr isnt froze, and it just doesnt turn the motor over. Im gonna go with the alignment theory but you might not have enough juice to Engage the starter. that would make it spin just not enough to Engage it all the way

 
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I'll run some of these checks in the morning...thanks all. I'll let you know what develops.

 
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The easiest way is to see if the teeth on the starter are making full engagement with the teeth on the flex plate. Look for the wear pattern on the flex plate, and It should be all the way across the tooth profile.

 
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FYI...the problem was the rotor and cap. Runs like a champ again. Thanks for all the advice.