Travelogue: Detonate Your Car's Muffler

Step 4 $100 Off Your Next Windshield, Cure for Grinding Starters.

In step 1 of this instructable is the story of how we drove the truck a long way with the starter on.
That was bad and damaged the gears of the starter, probably the flywheel as well.
Now when I turn the key there's usually just a grinding sound, no starting.

That's okay because this truck has a manual transmission and can be push started.
"Only own cars with manual transmissions" is the the 11th Commandment.
Actually, let's make that Commandment #1 and push the other Commandments back.
That's how important it is to having a happy life.

My mom is a good sport. Every time we push started the car she broke out laughing. A couple of times gangs of motorcyclists or tattoed youths with bad hair helped push the car.
Push-starting your car enables you to see people at their best.
It always makes people happy to see you run along your car pushing it, jump in, and have the engine fire right up when you pop the clutch in 2nd gear.

I thought I'd have to replace the starter and maybe the flywheel. I jacked it up a couple of times and crawled under it but lost enthusiasm and crawled back out.

So I had the cracked windshield replaced first. "I don't have insurance. How much to replace my windshield?" Those magic words will save you $100. Insurance is a hassle for everyone, and people don't shop for price for insurance jobs. Thus they charge you less if you say you don't have it. Try it. it's true. It works for me anyway.

Then I procrastinated more by paying my taxes, fixing and cleaning a toilet, got a couple more free boats, etc. etc. and finally it was time to fix the starter. Fortunately my pal Joe Van Niekerk from South Africa came sailing with me. He taught me a trick for starting a car with bad teeth. When you park your car, stop the motor by stepping on the brake, putting the car in gear, and letting out the clutch. That stalls the motor and stops it right away. That way the motor stops in a position where there are fresh teeth.
It works like a charm. After stopping the motor that way, the starter works perfectly every time because the flywheel teeth are fresh and sharp in that position and the starter gear engages well.
When you do it the usual way and stop the motor by turning off the ignition key it stops in the same old positions where the teeth are already shot, so the starter just grinds and doesn't mesh with them.

So there you have it.
Stall your motor and spare your starter.
And the magic words that save you $100 on your next windshield. Or any other bodywork for that matter.

Comments

[wallysbrother]

Hmm. Perhaps I don't know enough about cars, but I can't figure out why stopping the engine by stalling it guarantees that good teeth on the flywheel will line up with the starter. Won't the flywheel stop in a random place?

[ThE MaNiaC]

The starter doesn't need to turn because the wheels->transmission->and finally ->the engine, is already turning. All you need do is to turn your ignition on and the engine will start again and at the same time it will open the exhaust valve and let a wee bit o' flame into the exhaust pipe and then Kraaaahhh! Boooom! Whoosh! Scream! <rending of flesh> car doors, sirens, vomiting, yellow plastic, morgue, moldy eternity... Just kidding, only the muffler blows. You'll be totally safe. Ab-so-friggin-lutely zero chance of disfigurement or even the heartache of dismemberment to deal with. In fact, this procedure is highly recommended for any 16 year old new driver. <kidding again>

[lookatmygrlyfont]

i dont think i learned anything during this instructable but i sure laughed me ass off like dannyboy!

[dannyboy]

Yer one funny guy Tim. I continuously laughed my ass off through this whole Instructable. Thanks for keepin' me awake! I'm so glad I found and joined this site today. Look forward to reading more of your posts.