Starter Failure? Where to go...
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Starter Failure? Where to go...
I have 1997 Aerostar. This morning it was -10 in MN.
I tried to start the car but only get a loud "thunk" sound from the starter. The Battery has enough juice.....
Any ideas on how hard replacement is, where to find a manual, any other thoughts???
Don't look forward to playing weekend mechanic while it's below 0, but it doesn't look like I'll have much choice.
I tried to start the car but only get a loud "thunk" sound from the starter. The Battery has enough juice.....
Any ideas on how hard replacement is, where to find a manual, any other thoughts???
Don't look forward to playing weekend mechanic while it's below 0, but it doesn't look like I'll have much choice.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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you may just have a locked up starter or the engine could be froze.
i would try to put a breaker bar and socket on the front engint pully to see if you can manually move the engine. also this may unlock the starter if it is locked. if ya cant move the engine with the breaker bar
the starter is not the problem you got a froze motor
i would try to put a breaker bar and socket on the front engint pully to see if you can manually move the engine. also this may unlock the starter if it is locked. if ya cant move the engine with the breaker bar
the starter is not the problem you got a froze motor
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: staten island
I replaced the starter in my '92. It was not hard, pretty straightforward. I think I left some instructions in a past post about it. Thiat was maybe 6 months ago. The hardest part was making sure that you prop the new one on a block while you use your two hands to connect the wires. You may need to resplice one small wire, as the old connector lug may not fit the new starter. The new wire was included with the starter. In cold weather like this make sure you test your floor jack and back it up with stands. Good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: British Columbia
Muffinman is right. I had to whack my starter twice with my wheel wrench to get mine to turn over. Once was in a crowded wal-mart lot and that was enough. Got a wrecker starter and replaced it in about 15 minutes. It's probably the easiest job on this vehicle. Getting it off the ground high enough to get under the running boards was the hardest part.
007BRONCO
007BRONCO
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Joined: Aug 2004
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It is a 2x or 4x van? This wil make a difference on the advise you need. I replaced a starter on my 4x van this year and it was no fun at all. I can give you some advise if needed.
Reid in Spokane, WA
Reid in Spokane, WA
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Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 120
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From: Vandenberg Air Force Base
Sometimes moisture gets trapped in pockets like the bearing end caps. When the temp gets below freezing, ice crystals begin to form causing resistance against the shaft to turn. A starter motor is very powerful, when moving. Enough moisture in a freezing temp can produce enough ice crystals to prevent the starter shaft from turning. Hitting it with a hammer breaks it up and works well as you know.
I've been experimenting with using the hammer on other components that don't work too (headlights, dashboards, kids.....joking, etc) but so far no luck. I'm sure I'll find something else a hammer can fix!
Perhaps that could be a separate topic of discussion?
I've been experimenting with using the hammer on other components that don't work too (headlights, dashboards, kids.....joking, etc) but so far no luck. I'm sure I'll find something else a hammer can fix!
Perhaps that could be a separate topic of discussion?
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 718
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From: North Jersey, New Jersey
Thanks For The Info
I knew it had something to do with the shaft freezing once I saw a guy in a Walmart parking lot striking his starter in 90 Degree weather and I said then he was stupid and I still can say what an idiot . He must have wrongly interpreted this information.
I knew it had something to do with the shaft freezing once I saw a guy in a Walmart parking lot striking his starter in 90 Degree weather and I said then he was stupid and I still can say what an idiot
. He must have wrongly interpreted this information.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 339
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From: British Columbia
Krankshaft, There are lots of things whacking the starter will do in ANY weather. I've seen it work on lots of vehicles, especially Chevies with the built in relay. Reseating the brushes against the rotor, freeing up corroded, dirty or in-need-of-lube parts, pins and bushings etc which will all work less than perfect after nestling up to a hot engine block in a Walmart parking lot. I sure hope your reply was not directed to myself or muffinman!
P.S. If you want to pay $70.00 for a tow from Walmart instead of trying to give it a hit first, on a hot summer day no less, please feel free!
007BRONCO
P.S. If you want to pay $70.00 for a tow from Walmart instead of trying to give it a hit first, on a hot summer day no less, please feel free!
007BRONCO
Last edited by 007bronco; Jan 20, 2005 at 07:42 PM.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Vandenberg Air Force Base
Yes! The hammer works in any weather. My reply was only one explanation (of many)for cold weather. It's even worked for me in 120 degree desert temps. The idea is to jolt the starter and get it moving.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 718
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From: North Jersey, New Jersey
No that wasn't directed to anyone 
I was just trying to understand what this actually does.
I come from the computer field and and even though I've gone from changing my own oil to tranny in my line of work when you whack something with a hammer your either really annoyed or want to break something in frustration a couple computers of mine died that way
.
Thanks for the info
I was just trying to understand what this actually does.I come from the computer field and and even though I've gone from changing my own oil to tranny in my line of work when you whack something with a hammer your either really annoyed or want to break something in frustration a couple computers of mine died that way
.Thanks for the info
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 178
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From: Winnipeg
I had a Chevy years ago that had a starter that jammed if shut down hot. The hammer whack always freed it. Strangly, the next starter on that van never jammed.
This is not the same thing as starter motor lock-out.
This is not the same thing as starter motor lock-out.