starter going bad

[fsSnowboard]

Alright, i think my starter is going out again . i already replaced it either last winter or the year before. i'm going to try and put a batery charger on my truck and see if that might help but it just cranks so slowly. i guess i need to check my glowplugs also becuase its been hard to start. so, here is my question. do i buy the Mitsubishi starter with Offset Gear Reduction Starter or the standard mitsubishi type? what is the Offset Gear Reduction? or should i take my unit and have it rebuilt? what would be the cheapest/best?

Thanks

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

Tyler,

Welcome to OB.

How old are the batteries? If'n ya got a way to load test em, might not hurt.
If the motor is not spinning fast enough(able to count motor revolutions) that will also contribute to hard starting.
The Mitsu gear reduction is the better choice as it gives more revs to the motor without as much strain on the starter. A good choice by many.
Rebuilding might be cheaper, but in the long run the better choice IMHO would be to go with the Mitsu if the batteries test good.

 

[Agnem]

I get whatever comes in a Motorcraft box.

 

[fsSnowboard]

How old are the batteries?

I got them right before i got the starter. about a year ago. i just did some figuring, its only been like 13k miles for the starter.

i've been having hard starts forever. i just replaced IP and Injectors, so would it be right for me to suspect my glow plug system? i'll check the plugs soon and see if they are good.

i'm pretty sure i can count the revs. its real slow. i guess i'll look for someone who can rebuild it localy or get the mitsu with the gear reduction.

 

[towcat]

how are your battery cables? they are often overlooked.

 

[mateo]

I realize that I'm low man on the totem pole here, but I'd check the battery connections. I picked up some gold plated battery clamps at AZ, (bling bling) and that made a big difference on my truck. Mostly because one of my old clamps was pretty hammered and consequently only one battery was really being used.

 

[HammerDown]

Clean ALL connections BAtt-Starter and...>especially the ones on the passenger side fender well relay. (next to the battery)

 

[fsSnowboard]

i think i'll double check my clamps...maybe go buy some new ones. my clamps are all mangled and a PITA.

 

[OkieGringo]

During your hard starting problems, which could be because of the starter going south, you probably abused it too much. Order this starter from Autozone...Duralast-offset gear reduction Mitsubishi, part # 16561 , price $129.99 US dollars(this was price in San Diego 3 yrs ago), core charge = $120.00 USD( so take old one with you), Limited Lifetime Waranty. Even if your old starter is a different brand (mine was an AC Delco ) get the Mitsubushi- Autozone doesn't care. From what these guys told me about replacing this starter ...I expected it to be very difficult, it wasn't, 15 minutes out, one hour to Autozone and back, 15 minutes back in. It takes longer just to get the tools rounded up . OkieGringo

 

[yARIC008]

Yeah, you want the starter that looks like a torpedo.

 

[HammerDown]

Tyler, all good advice above but, as I mentioned prior to spending money on a new/rebuilt starter (first) clean ALL connections as I mentioned. And then for the hell of it pull your old starter out and take it apart...reason...I thought my OE starter for my 1988 was spinning a little slow. I took it appart the brushes were still thick! I fully blew out all the armature dust, cleaned the armatures with scotch-brite, cleaned out the mica grooves, installed one new end bearing (little dry) and gave it a shot.

The outcome...I saved over $100 smakers, the engine once again spins fast!

PS. my original starter has more starts on it than I could even think about. but it still workes great!