Starter Questions
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Starter Questions
1) I am not sure if my starter is beginning to fail. At first I thought the batteries were getting low but they are only about 1.5 years old. When I turn it over the cranking speed is very slow like I am running low on juice but it seems to do it even if I drive the truck for a while and the batteries are fully charged. I am charging both of them up now to rule those out as a problem. I have never had a starter failure. What are the symptoms of a starter failure?
2) I think I located the starter on the bottom passenger side of the engine. It looks really simple to change out. Can I just unbolt and unplug the old starter or do I have to drain the oil or anything else?
Sorry if these questions are stupid. I'm not a mechanic, I just want to save money.
Thanks in advance.
2) I think I located the starter on the bottom passenger side of the engine. It looks really simple to change out. Can I just unbolt and unplug the old starter or do I have to drain the oil or anything else?
Sorry if these questions are stupid. I'm not a mechanic, I just want to save money.
Thanks in advance.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: STEPHENVILLE,TX!!!!!
failing starter will have slow crank speeds, will only click sometimes. wont go when hot. there easy to change out no oil drain. i would get your batteries tested just to make sure. go through clean battery terminals, starter relay term and starter terminal sometimes that will help out right there. going with a superduty starter for a replacement works much better than the ones for the 97's and its the same style starter just some refinements made.
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Originally Posted by barebackjake
failing starter will have slow crank speeds, will only click sometimes. wont go when hot. there easy to change out no oil drain. i would get your batteries tested just to make sure. go through clean battery terminals, starter relay term and starter terminal sometimes that will help out right there. going with a superduty starter for a replacement works much better than the ones for the 97's and its the same style starter just some refinements made.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Originally Posted by FordPowerStroke
Is the starter relay the solenoid mounted on the passenger side just behind the battery and next to the coolant reservoir?
Dave / Believer45
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Today I scrubbed the battery terminals really well (but they really didn't need it) and charged the batteries (they were fine), I cleaned the starter relay leads (they were fine too) and got underneath and looked at the terminals for the starter itself and they look okay as well.
I went ahead and ordered a new starter off of Ebay for $145. I'l get that in a few days, bolt in on and see what happens. I did get a newer model that provides more torque. It will fit a PowerStroke up to 2003.
Thanks for the help.
I went ahead and ordered a new starter off of Ebay for $145. I'l get that in a few days, bolt in on and see what happens. I did get a newer model that provides more torque. It will fit a PowerStroke up to 2003.
Thanks for the help.
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Update: The new starter arrived today, it is quite a bit beefier than the OEM starter. It took about 20 minutes to get the old one off and about 15 to get the new one on. It cranks like a house on fire now 
