Starter Problems?
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 48
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From: O'Fallon United States
Starter Problems?
Hey folks,
I have been having some trouble starting my truck. Every so often, I will turn the key to start the truck, and it will click once, as if the start is engaging, but it doen't continue to turn. This happened several weeks ago, and I thought I only had a loose wire on the starter(it looked like the wire and nut had arced on the post on the starter. I tightened it up, and all had been fine. Last night, I got my truck saftey inspection, and afterwards, it acted up again. The mechanic that did the inspection tapped on the start with my tire iron, and it started right up. He said the brushes were probably not making contact at that particular spot. He suggested I should get a new starter before the old one goes south for good. Has anyone else had this problem? Does the mechanic's diagnosis sound correct? If so, I will replace the starter immediately.
Thanks,
Brandonl
I have been having some trouble starting my truck. Every so often, I will turn the key to start the truck, and it will click once, as if the start is engaging, but it doen't continue to turn. This happened several weeks ago, and I thought I only had a loose wire on the starter(it looked like the wire and nut had arced on the post on the starter. I tightened it up, and all had been fine. Last night, I got my truck saftey inspection, and afterwards, it acted up again. The mechanic that did the inspection tapped on the start with my tire iron, and it started right up. He said the brushes were probably not making contact at that particular spot. He suggested I should get a new starter before the old one goes south for good. Has anyone else had this problem? Does the mechanic's diagnosis sound correct? If so, I will replace the starter immediately.
Thanks,
Brandonl
Elder User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 794
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From: American by birth, TEXAN
sounds close, i would definitely replace the starter and even the solenoid, they are not to expensive anyway also check your negative cable at the battery to see if it is getting hot, it might be temporarily shorting...
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4
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From: MI
Sounds more like a classic Ford solenoid problem. Try crossing the posts on the solenoid with a screwdriver, and if she starts right up, then your starter is fine, and your solenoid or some wires to it may be loose.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 48
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From: O'Fallon United States
Hey folks, I appreciate the info, but I don't think my explaination of the situation was very clear. The starter actually begins to engage, it just doesn't turn the motor over. Is this just the selinoid, or starter, or both? I hate to replace the starter if I don't need to. I checked around, and it seems to be around 100 bucks.
Temporarily Deactivated
Joined: Aug 2003
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I haven't seen a starter yet that was difficult to work on. Do a little checking and then take it apart and look at it. Parts are cheap. You can probably put a brush holder and brushes in it and run it for the life of the truck. Check the bushings and maybe put a new drive in it for good measure.
When you buy a rebuilt unit you never know where it has been, it is unproven. If you put new parts in a proven reliable unit, you have a proven starter with new parts in it. If you do buy a rebuilt starter, spring a few extra bucks for the lifetime warranty.
Your job to determine if any of this fits your situation.
When you buy a rebuilt unit you never know where it has been, it is unproven. If you put new parts in a proven reliable unit, you have a proven starter with new parts in it. If you do buy a rebuilt starter, spring a few extra bucks for the lifetime warranty.
Your job to determine if any of this fits your situation.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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i've had six in the last 25thousand miles or so
I know most people don't do it this way, but it is an option. I do the same with my alternators.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 48
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From: O'Fallon United States
I know this is an old thread, but I finally have an update. Over the Christmas holiday, my wife going to take my sister to the doctor. Of course she turned the key and it wouldn't start. Well I pulled the starter(easy job) and disassembled it. I replaced the brushes/brush holder and regreased the bearings. It now works like a brand new starter. It only cost me 20 bucks!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Naperville, IL
brs127s - the timing of this thread couldn't be any better. I am experiencing the same problem with my truck. It just started in the last two days. I have the same symptoms that you described, I get the click of the starter engaging and that's it. After trying on and off for 10mins last night it started, but this morning, no luck. The weird thing is, why did it start giving me trouble on the coldest day of the year? It was -1* out this morning, I never had the problem in warmer weather.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 48
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From: O'Fallon United States
My truck did it off an on. I hadn't had a problem with it starting for quite some time. When I did get my starter apart, two of the brushes were shorter than the other two, with the shortest being considerably shorter. You could see the differences by sight.
As to why yours waited, I guess its Murphy's law. If it will it will. Mine quite at my parents house the day after Christmas. It was very windy, and on a gravel driveway. Couldn't have been a worse spot, plus without the starter, I couldn't move the truck under its own power. We chained a tire to the brush guard on my dad's old truck and pushed it into the garage.
The good thing is that it only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to get the starter off. Then you can take it inside to work on it. If I remember right, everything is half inch. There should only be the nut holding the hot wire on the engaging selenoid and the two bolts holding the starter on.
As to why yours waited, I guess its Murphy's law. If it will it will. Mine quite at my parents house the day after Christmas. It was very windy, and on a gravel driveway. Couldn't have been a worse spot, plus without the starter, I couldn't move the truck under its own power. We chained a tire to the brush guard on my dad's old truck and pushed it into the garage.
The good thing is that it only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to get the starter off. Then you can take it inside to work on it. If I remember right, everything is half inch. There should only be the nut holding the hot wire on the engaging selenoid and the two bolts holding the starter on.
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