Having trouble starting my truck. Cleaned the connection cables to the starter yesterday with my dremel, and still having problems with it. I will get a little click when i turn the key. Have to crawl up under the vehicle and tap the battery cable connection at the starter, and then it will crank, but since i cleaned this connection yesterday, leads me to believe the problem may be in the solenoid on the starter. Can I just replace that solenoid or should i get an entirely new starter.

 

Check the solenoid on the passenger side fender under the hood first.....run a jumper cable from one side to the other and then try to start the truck. If that gives you consistent starting you've found the culprit. WAAAAAAAAAY cheaper than a new starter. I don't know about in the states, but the dealer here want almost a $1,000.00 CDN for a new one!!!!!

 

If this is the case it is not the fender mounted starter relay found on the 1999-2001s. It is supplying power to the starter.

What year is your truck? The 2002-2003 do not have the fender mounted starter relay.

 

ooops, my bad, mine is a 2000, I didn't pay attention to the op's year of truck.

 

The truck is a 1999 7.3 diesel and I don't think it's the fender mounted solenoid for the reason you mention above.

 

Advance has the solenoid that is on the starter for $40 so for that price, I'll just try it and see. Going to go pick it up in a minute.

 

You mit want to have yours rebuilt. Its way better.

Chet

 

After fighting and then stripping the philips head (brilliant design to use phillips head) bolts that hold the solenoid on the starter, i took back the solenoid and just replaced the starter. It starts right up now, better than it has ever started since I got the truck about a year ago.

FYI for anyone who comes across this post in the future while doing a search, if anyone ever just tries to replace the solenoid, remove the starter before trying to get the solenoid off so you won't strip those phillip heads.

 

Nevermind I misunderstood.

 

What did the starter cost you?

 

$170 from Advance Auto.

 

You could not have gotten it rebuilt for that price. Life time warrenty?

 

LIMITED Lifetime Warranty and it is a new one, not a rebuilt one. They have a rebuilt one for 10 bucks less, but thought it was worth paying the extra 10 bucks for the new one and don't believe the rebuilt one had the warranty. That price is after returning the core.

You never know when they say "Limited" but think it just means if the starter housing cracks, they won't replace it because that is usually due to another issue with the truck that can cause that. And I know some warranties don't transfer to a new owner, so that may be the case as well.