Sticky GP solenoid, will a PSD unit work?

[Sycostang67]

I installed a light in my dash that is connected to the GP solenoid. It comes on when the solenoid is energized to let me know how long it's actually on. Today I had a fair amount of stopping and starting. My light isn't coming on at every start like it has been. The WTS light still comes on though. I'm sure it's the solenoid though as it took longer to start after sitting for only a few hours. I'm thinking it's sticking, like a starter solenoid that clicks but turn the key enough and you might get lucky. Instead of spending $150 for solenoid listed for my truck, several PSD owners reccommended I use the solenoid they get from Napa for $30. Will this work, has anyone else used a PSD solenoid? I saw a pic and it looks identical to the one currently on my IDI.

 

[Agnem]

Take a look at this....

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That's what you get when you buy the $30 one. The difference between it, and the "real one" is the bar you see there. Cheapies have a bar. Good ones have a disc instead. The bar can only arc on the same surface over and over again. The disc ones are made so that the disc rotates a little with each actuation. That puts fresh metal against the contacts more often. This results in a longer lasting, more reliable contactor. The choice is yours. Yes, the $30 will work. A few times anyway.

 

[Sycostang67]

Nuts, I figured if it was for a PSD it would be just as good. It still sucks they charge $120 more for a different piece of metal. I might have to try and get by with a cheap one for now as I'm still unemployed. I could try and milk this one for another month until things pick up at my wifes job though.

 

[Agnem]

If you really want to be cheap, drill out the rivets and repair yours. All that is needed is to get in there and re-dress the contacts. The one you see in my album I took apart, and really it went back together just fine.

 

[Sycostang67]

Thats not a bad idea, I'll give it a try.