2014 Tacoma clutch and flywheel replacement problem

I recently just replaced my clutch and Flywheel at our family friends auto shop on my 2014 6-sp manual. But afterward when turning over there is a loud spinning sound like the starter and fly wheel are not engaging. And sometimes (every 1 out of 10 tries) it doesn’t engage and it just spins. I’m still new to terminology but from what the mechanic says, “this is due to a brand new flywheel trying to get in sync with the starter. So that sound should go away with it a couple weeks”

has anyone else experienced something like this?

 

Sounds like teeth stripped off of flywheel

 

Is the starter bolted on properly? Wiring clean and corrosion-free? Were the mating surfaces clean and burr-free when you bolted it in? What about that flywheel? Resurfaced or new? Trustworthy part or CCS ("cheap Chinese shit")? Then there's the whole flywheel-shim question, which may be totally n/a to this brand (I've never pulled a Toyota tranny or flywheel), so I'll let the people smarter than me on here answer that or brush it aside as appropriate. I'm putting my money on bad Bendix-gear/ring-gear geometry.

 

That mechanic is full of you know what.

 

100%

 

get that starter out of there and check the teeth on the flywheel.

 

If you installed a new flywheel, and installed the starter properly (hard to screw up), the ring gear on the flywheel is somehow NG. There is nothing to "sync"; it works or it doesn't. I'm assuming the gear on the starter is OK since it sounds like this is a new problem, but obviously inspect that was well.

 

^^^^ This.

And to add a little detail, the problem will not go away and only will get worse. The reason your "mechanic" is saying that is he doesn't want to take the whole transmission back out again to fix the issue - which he will have to. My bet is that he used sub-standard Chinese parts to save some money. His explanation is total BS.

 

Truth be told, the sound will go away eventually - when you chew the teeth off of the flywheel. If he somehow installed the starter wrong or the starter is defective and he repairs / replaces it, you will still have damage to the teeth on your flywheel. Insist on inspecting them and having the flywheel replaced if there is any damage at all.

 

Your friend needs to fire that mechanic “getting in sync” what an idiot.

 

It's also pretty likely the old starter gear is so worn that it 'fit' the old flywheel and gnashes on a newer, non worn one.

If that worn though it will never 'break in' 'til it's worn very much again, taking most of the flywheel material with it.

Both sides need to examined extensively. Are there 2 different tooth count flywheels available?

 

did he use a new OEM Aisin flywheel ($400) or re-surface the existing one

or did he install a $70 LuK one

 

Or none of the above and just slap a new clutch disk and pressure plate over the old (non-resurfaced) flywheel?

And to the OP, unfortunately, much of what we are questioning is very hard to verify without total removal of the transmission and clutch assembly.

 

That '1 out 10 x' that it just spins makes me suspect the starter first off.

 

YOU did the work? (you say *I* recently replaced) And just used the shop/lift/tools?

Or the mechanic did the work?

Who sourced the parts, and what kind?

Uhhh, no. It's due to either incorrect parts or incorrect assembly and/or possibly a damaged/worn starter.

Side topic. How many miles on this '14? 150-200k of city driving should be the norm for clutch life. More if its hwy cruising.

And what led to the diagnosis that the clutch and flywheel were in need of replacement?

 

I don't think Zack is coming back

 

You need a new mechanic. It shouldn't be doing this. Sounds like you need a starter solenoid or a solenoid rebuild kit.

 

So @Zack Hutch. You show up, make one post asking for guidance, then check out between posts 5 and 6.

We like folks to follow up and tell the rest of the story. It helps everyone learn.

We'll wait a while. But not forever..............

 

Some peoples kids....