The second question to my post below. Since the starter will not disengage right away (disengages within a few seconds), it grinds against the flywheel once the car starts (sorta like when your 16 year old is learning to drive and keeps forgetting to release the key once the engine starts). How long could this go on before there is significant wearing of the teeth on the flywheel?

I know, I know- If I never start the car, it could last for years... ;)

Of course fixing the problem is the way to go. I can tell you that when my engine wiring harness decided to retire it energised my starter at about fifty mph. This bit of delirium not only sounded like no other noise I had ever heard coming from under a car hood but also completely machined the starter pinion gear down to a little hub with teeth now about 1/8 of an inch wide. I looked very closely at the flywheel teeth and could not tell anything had happened. I was very surprised. You mileage may vary.

These guys replying to your message are just about the most uninformed people I have ever heard in my entire life. How do you know the starter is bad, maybe the ignition switch is sticking, maybe the starter is sticking the starter will not damage the flywheel unless it is so far gone it is just not spinning, and even then it would not ruin the flywheel because it isnt even spinning. If the starter is bad replace it, removing it is a verysimple job, two bolts through the bell housing on the tranny, then the nuts holding the power eire to the starter. Remember where you took the field wire off of the starter "that is the wire with the plug on the end. If you need some help e-mail me.

Thanks for the response. I don't think the ignition is sticking. I am fairly certian the problem is with the starter. I know the job is not complicated, and I would prefer to replace the starter myself, but I don't have the time hunt for parts or to play shade-tree mechanic this weekend. Unfortunately, I have to move two households and also deal with the logistics of torrential rains here in the northeast. However, I was just looking for some assurance that the car would most likely survive a few days without too many ill effects.

...how long is a piece of string? Pulling the starter is a relatively easy and quick job. Pulling the flywheel (or flexplate) is most definitely not. If you have a manual trans (ie: it really has a flywheel), a new ring gear is about $125, and you'll have to get it replaced by a professional shop. But then you are into the "might-as-well's". You have already done 100% of the labor to replace the clutch at this point, so you might as well......
Yes - park on a hill until you get this fixed.
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Bob (81-244GL B21F, 83-244DL B23F, 94-940Sedan B230F)

It won't take long. The starter gear is soft so that will wear first. The flywheel teeth are hard so they will tend to break away and chip instead of just get ground down. It sounds like maybe the starter gear shaft is gunked up and does not allow the gear to engage/disengage quickly. I'd recommend removing the starter and trying to clean it up. Replacing the flywheel is much less fun.

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Matt L. -- Cary, NC -- '91 740 wagon

...if you have a manual tranny.