Starter Failure Today....

[icanfixall]

Haven't run my rig in probably 4 days. Engine cranked really slow like bad batteries. While running I tested batteries both on clamps and posts. 14.86 volts no matter where I placed the voltmeter. Battery dash gauge showed no real charge going on either. Went for drive to have wifeys TV repaired. Was in shop maybe 5 minutes. Went to start and just barely got engine to crank. Tried 3 times but finally fired up. Drove home and removed starter. My favorite mom & pop shop checked it and told me dirty. Brushes gone and solenoid failing... So no matter what I was going to replace it because it was out. Now I have a quick hit of the ignition switch and its running fine. Date of this starter was 07-09... I either installed it just before or after the 2009 rally. Must start a truck file on computer cause I can't remember much any more...

 

[riotwarrior]

Least ya got it home..pulled and replaced...

Nice catch

 

[IDIoit]

get you a powermaster Gary, im interested in what you old timers feel about em.

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

Must start a truck file on computer cause I can't remember much any more...

haha.wanna see mine? i'll toss it in my recent chip or strip thread for kicks and giggles.

 

[rhkcommander]

Ive got a powermaster starter on mine. Not sure what the deal is but I usually have to try 3-4x to get it to crank.

 

[riotwarrior]

What surprises me most.....is he did NOT have a replacement behind back seat

 

[Shawn MacAnanny]

I've been using a NAPA new starter for a year now. Had problems with the mitsubishi starter that was on the truck when i bought it, had problems with the DB electrical starter i replaced it with, but the NAPA new starter has been good

 

[icanfixall]

Sadly I did not have a spare in the shop or behind the rear seat. I have been feeling the slow cranking for maybe a year. Kept the cables clean and the clamps tight too. Kind of was hoping for the smoke to tell me it was the starter but checking the voltage after it was running told all. Going out for breakfast in a few minutes and give it the morning "test"....

 

[OLDBULL8]

Just don't know what to tell ya, never had a starter problem. YET.

Long cranking, I hear does wear the starter brushes down.

 

[icanfixall]

Bill. My fuel system is tight... Never requires a long crank to fire off. And with the electric lift pump it can purge the air without ever cranking too.. Saves the starter and batteries too. Now something to think about is the high cranking compression of 530 lbs. Now I wonder if that is some of the failure reasons. Last year I drove less than 500 miles so it does not get used daily. Maybe on average 3 times per week. I do not use it for fast food drive thrus because they never can hear me speak my order. If I shut down to talk it ends up the same as shutting down and walking in to get food...

 

[OLDBULL8]

Ha Ha Ha, shutting down so the gal can hear me order the carry out, She, "I can't hear you" So I shut er down, had a problem when hot with the UVCH on the 99, wouldn't start for another 20 minutes, Arbys got pissed off for blocking the lane for that long.

I go to Micky D's now, they have a double lane for carry out.

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

im amazed how well these starters last.with chip truck for example,i can start that truck no joke,over 50 times per day.you figure,starting in the am,and it's not just transportation but a work tool,used in peoples yards.so i can start,back up to chip brush,shut it down,back up to stay close to the brush and or move it around to twitch trees,pull over large trunks i cut the top out off,and move all around to unhook chipper, and or toss some wood on.etc.etc.so i can start the truck over and over and over throughout the day.that's a lot of ware and tear.
how can ya beat autozone reman so i can run in to grab another on the fly and it doesn't cost a dime.

oh yeah and of course all my shut down and re-starts on dump runs getting coffee at dunkin donuts! im a coffeeholic! that's my only vice these days,so im ok with it.

 

[Knuckledragger]

I know a lot of you (particularly Gary) really like the gear reduction starters. They make such a racket when starting, they must be doing something swell, right? Well, the reason for GR starters is so the companies don't have to buy such big motors to turn engines over. Let the torque multiplication work for you. The only time my starter has failed was when the truck was stolen and the solenoid went bad ($14 part). No more hot wire, so they abandoned it and I got it back. As far as I know it is original to the truck, which now has 26,000 miles on the rebuild over the 100,000 when I bought it.

The original Delco starters are super reliable and have lots of grunt but are power hogs, so will not work well on low batteries. They are big, heavy mothers to change out but the good news is that rarely is necessary.

Okay,now take your shots. I know I'm in a small minority liking the cave man technology.

 

[yARIC008]

I've got a mitsu starter. I remember the day i got it, was standing at the parts counter when Columbia was on the news and burned up on re-entry, 2/1/2001. It still turns her over great. For about 5-6 years i tracked how many starts were on it and got up to like 1000 or something. Have no clue how many now.

 

[jayro88]

I had used a couple Autozone starters on mine before. It was nice to get free replacements, but the starters didn't last well. I also started getting an issue with my ring gear grinding more and more frequently. The last time my Autozone one started cranking slower i went ahead and just returned it. Bought a Powermaster to replace it. The van now turns over extremely fast and i haven't had a single incident where my ring gear grinds.

Having a good starter for my van is important. The vans use smaller batteries than the trucks due to packaging issues. In sub-zero winter temps it can be very noticable if things are weak.