SkinnedAussie

^^ The starter won't turn as the helix is fully extended, and can't turn any further. By hitting the starter with a hammer, this releases the spring, allowing the starter gear to return to it's normal position. A turn of the key will then engage the starter, but if the teeth are not lined up, the starter gear will again jam, resulting in a single click. This 'tremendous amount of noise' you refer to would occur if the teeth are worn, or if the starter gear was not meshing with the flywheel gear, and thus, spinning free. To me, it sounds like the starter gear is meshing with the flywheel, but cannot generate enough power to a/. crank the engine over, before b/. jamming in the 'engage' position, and thus giving a single click as the solenoid tries to activate the starter. It is the starter solenoid that is clicking in this scenario.

Not necessarily. The cause is more often than not the starter gear remains engaged with the flywheel gear. The problems then is the return spring is on it's way out, or there is a burr on the starter gear. The single click is an indicator that the starter is trying to engage. A hit with a hammer often is enough to release the starter gear, but the chance of the gear not releasing remains. The easiest fix is to swap out the starter.

Did you try this with the vehicle still on the ground? You may have to lift the body at the jack points to give you the clearance needed to access the filler plug.

I asked because not only was I a mechanic - the one who actually did all the dirty work - but a heavy vehicle (truck) mechanic. No matter how hard I worked (or how quick), or how many hours, I never got paid more than $1000 per week. My hourly rate was never more than $22 per hour. In fact, the Service Advisors were making more than the mechanics.

My gripe is that you want to ensure workmanship is first class, but you have yet to answer how much those carrying out this first class workmanship are getting paid. What do you pay your mechanics per hour? Can you justify your labour charges as to what you pay your mechanics?

When your shop replaces parts, do you offer them back to the customer? Two points for this question: 1/. Any part that comes off a vehicle is the property of the vehicle owner, and 2/. Indicates that any part shown on the work order as being replaced has actually been replaced.

WHAT! Wrestling is fake! NOOOOOOOO.

Can someone explain to me what colour burgandy is?