My brother has a 1993 Explorer and it wont start. When I turn the key it the start will spin but will not engage to the flex plate. I replaced the starter thinking it was that, with no luck. I then replaced the battery, because it tested bad, still no luck. Then I replaced the solenoid, it was not that either . I replaced the positive starter terminal of the wire going from the solenoid to the starter ( on the starter side) because it looked corroded and bad. I turned the flex plate with a screwdriver and it spins the engine, and the teeth looked good. Then I put the starter back on and it engaged, but the starter would not disengage from the flex plate. This ground most of the teeth off of the starter and the flex plate. I bought another starter, and I herd you could replace the starter ring teeth on the flex plat with out dropping the trans is this true? I took it to a shop and they had no idea what to do. I don't know what to do next. All of the wires are in there correct locations. I'm lost... any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

I don't know any way to replace the ring gear without removing the tranny and replacing the flex plate. It sounds like you had a bad starter and the starter drive wouldn't go all the way out.

 

Is it possible that the gear on the starter doesn't match the teeth on the flex plate? You could change the gear on the starter. You may just have the wrong starter. If you have to replace the flex plate for some reason, you can remove the driveshaft, unbolt the bellhousing, slide the trans back a little and let it rest on the exhaust crossover. You will also have to unscrew the trans cooling lines and gear shifter. It's a pain in the a**.