Quote:
Originally Posted by Clifford Pope
Lack of "clunk on engagement" suggests that the starter motor isn't engaging with the flywheel. The first check is surely to see if the crank pulley turns when you turn the key?
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While that is true, it wouldn't have caused the engine to just stop. If you've ever heard a car trying to start after the cam/timing belt has failed, you'll understand about the lack of clunk on engagement of the starter.
Yes, there's a bit of a click/clunk as the solenoid pulls on the yoke to engage the starter pinon in the flywheel but the most audible is when the starter tries to start turning the flywheel at the same time and meets resistance from compression. If the timing belt has failed, there will be no compression so the flywheel/engine is (relatively) free to turn.
Hence the "lack of clonk" suggesting timing belt failure. If you read the rest of my post, i point out the fan should turn on the starter - this is the most obvious and visible indication the starter is turning the flywheel, easily seen even in poor light conditions.