Starter issues
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Starter issues
I’ve replaced the starter on my 78 f150 three times since the beginning of the year. When it happens it makes a grinding sound and the housing breaks off the end of the starter and lays down by the flywheel. Any comments on troubleshooting what may be going wrong or recommendations on what starter to use?
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,217
Likes: 506
From: Pa.
I’ve replaced the starter on my 78 f150 three times since the beginning of the year. When it happens it makes a grinding sound and the housing breaks off the end of the starter and lays down by the flywheel. Any comments on troubleshooting what may be going wrong or recommendations on what starter to use?
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 387
Likes: 25
Which engine is in your truck? Has anything been swapped? I have had some bad results with chain store exchange starters--their application listings are not always right and their staff are often not helpful with our old trucks. I have had much more success rebuilding the original Ford factory starters or getting a remanufactured Ford starter from a Ford dealer. It's not as easy as exchanging at the parts store, but the results are better for me.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
not at all, it still turns about the same speed but it won’t catch on the flywheel.when I took it off today it was clear that the gear on the starter wasn’t engaging on the flywheel, and no damage was done other than some grinding on the edge of a few teeth on the flywheel, but the previous replacements actually broke off the housing of the starter.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Which engine is in your truck? Has anything been swapped? I have had some bad results with chain store exchange starters--their application listings are not always right and their staff are often not helpful with our old trucks. I have had much more success rebuilding the original Ford factory starters or getting a remanufactured Ford starter from a Ford dealer. It's not as easy as exchanging at the parts store, but the results are better for me.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,217
Likes: 506
From: Pa.
Have you inspected the ring gear to include the entire circumference for broken teeth? If there are more than a couple teeth missing consecutively in any one area you will keep eating starters until you replace the ring gear. This will require you drop the transmission and pull the flywheel or flexplate depending on whether you have an automatic or manual transmission ..
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 246
Likes: 1
I went through this with the "Lifetime" Advance Auto starters, replaced one in the parking lot and it broke off first start. Make sure you are getting a quality starter, if I costs under $70k it is probably junk.
Trending Topics
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 858
Likes: 118
From: Buffalo NY
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,728
Likes: 2,584
From: The Shenandoah Valley
Have you inspected the ring gear to include the entire circumference for broken teeth? If there are more than a couple teeth missing consecutively in any one area you will keep eating starters until you replace the ring gear. This will require you drop the transmission and pull the flywheel or flexplate depending on whether you have an automatic or manual transmission ..
In the '70s I replaced a flex plate with ring gear on a '70 CST-10 402 with Turbo 400 by removing the driveshaft, undoing trans linkage, supporting the tail shaft, pulled the driveshaft, and used two really long bolts through the bell housing at lowest point on each side into engine, slid trans back just far enough to let me remove the bolts from the crank and drop the flex plate downwards.
In the earl '90s I help a mechanic buddy replace the flexplate in my '89 Chevy Caprice Classic police car essentially the same way. Car was out of warranty, Sgt let me take it to him, I just helped as he is a buddy and I used his lift sometimes for personal stuff.
My '77 still has the original starter and starter friendly low compression 351M.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Have you inspected the ring gear to include the entire circumference for broken teeth? If there are more than a couple teeth missing consecutively in any one area you will keep eating starters until you replace the ring gear. This will require you drop the transmission and pull the flywheel or flexplate depending on whether you have an automatic or manual transmission ..
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
have you found one that lasts longer?
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,096
Likes: 5,758
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Are you 100 % sure you are getting a starter for the transmission you have? You do know there is a difference in a manual and automatic trans starter. Also I believe there is possibly a different tooth count on the starter/versus (flywheel?) I am quoting, so not sure. Do you have a 302, 351M, 400, 460? Auto or manual trans?
Said by a VERY old FTE member.
And from Number Dummy:
D7AZ-11002-A (replaced D1AZ-11002-A) .. Starter Assy (Motorcraft SA-701-A).
1971/79 400 & 1975/79 351M FoMoCo Passenger Cars...which only came with A/T.
1977/79 F100/350 & 1978/82 Bronco & 1980/82 F150/350 351M/400 with A/T & M/T.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D6PZ-11350-B (replaced C6VY-11350-A) .. Starter Drive (Motorcraft SD-302).
ALL A/T & M/T 1967/79 FoMoCo V8's except 429/460 / ALL A/T & M/T 1980/89 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline V8's (gas) including 460.
Said by a VERY old FTE member.
D7AZ-11002-A (replaced D1AZ-11002-A) .. Starter Assy (Motorcraft SA-701-A).
1971/79 400 & 1975/79 351M FoMoCo Passenger Cars...which only came with A/T.
1977/79 F100/350 & 1978/82 Bronco & 1980/82 F150/350 351M/400 with A/T & M/T.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D6PZ-11350-B (replaced C6VY-11350-A) .. Starter Drive (Motorcraft SD-302).
ALL A/T & M/T 1967/79 FoMoCo V8's except 429/460 / ALL A/T & M/T 1980/89 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline V8's (gas) including 460.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,217
Likes: 506
From: Pa.
@tbear853 Yes anytime you can avoid having to drop the transmission I would be in favor of 
In the case of a manual transmission I've always wanted to inspect the clutch plate, pressure plate, pilot bushing given what a pain it is to do it in first place, Here in this problem I think it's going to take some close inspection to include part #s to get to the root of the cause of why the problem began in the first place. I think with the help of you and the FTE forensics team we'll hopefully get it sorted so it doesn't happen again, I'm thinking at the moment it's more than inferior starters though. 
In the case of a manual transmission I've always wanted to inspect the clutch plate, pressure plate, pilot bushing given what a pain it is to do it in first place, Here in this problem I think it's going to take some close inspection to include part #s to get to the root of the cause of why the problem began in the first place. I think with the help of you and the FTE forensics team we'll hopefully get it sorted so it doesn't happen again, I'm thinking at the moment it's more than inferior starters though.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 387
Likes: 25
Rebuilding is easy assuming the armature, housing, and nose cone are not damaged. It's a case of disassembling the starter and replacing small wear items most of the time. Brushes, starter drive, & bushings. A rebuilding shop that specializes in rebuilding starters & alternators will do a better job, meaning that if any other parts need replacing they will do that as well.