I have a weird starting issue on my 1997 TA. It starts up fine most of the time, but every so often the motor kicks back and fights against the starter motor. I am not sure what would cause this. I replaced my plug wires and installed NGK iridium spark plugs and my MSD opti has less than 3,000mi on it. I am not sure whats going on, but I have blew one starter apart already. I am going to test for leaking injectors tomorrow.

 

I got the same problem iv mest up 2 starters in a week already

 

Have you checked if the starter needs to be shimmed?

shbox website might help http://shbox.com/1/starter_gear.jpg

 

Yes this is not the problem, I unhooked the fuel/coil and the starter cranks the motor perfectly. So I think it has to do with the spark or fuel; I hope it's not the opti.

 

Fuel or spark issues (or even opti) wont give you the problem your describing. Do you have stock compression?

If so, i think it could still be the starter or weak battery, and probly battery cables too. Sometimes corrosion builds up inside the wire insulation and causes intermittent cranking issues.

 

It's not really a intermittent cranking issue. If I unhook the ignition and fuel the starter cranks the motor with no issues. It sounds and feels like the motor is firing one direction and the starter is turning the other direction. The starter exploded a couple weeks ago, the nose cone blew apart and the entire starter cracked. Something is causing the motor to fight against the starter, the starter binding or not getting enough power would not cause the starter to blow apart like it did. I really think it's a ignition issue.