Is my starter toast?
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Is my starter toast?
I drove my truck last Friday, no problems. I garaged it and today I took it out to put on a battery tender, the starter gave off a grinding noise when I was starting it, as if I turned the key when the vehjicle was started. The engine had just started to catch when the starter gave off thsi noise.
With the latest try, I hear a click at the side of the truck where the starter is and no other noise after that. It won't turn over at all now.
With the latest try, I hear a click at the side of the truck where the starter is and no other noise after that. It won't turn over at all now.
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Originally Posted by quicklook2
check spade connector for corrosion and make sure it has a good connection.
I can't ever replacing the starter, if I did it has been a long time.
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Originally Posted by natewill
I had my starter bolts wiggle loose, and that prevented the starter from starting the truck ,and gave off some nasty noises to boot. How are the mounting bolts torqued?
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is it making a grinding noise? winding, like its not catching? If its not doing either, then take it to auto zone and have it tested out. When my starter went, it made a winding noise like it wasnt catching, which it wasnt. took a few tries before it caught..
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When my wife was watching 'america's got talent' or some stupid show like that, I decided to not waste the life of my eyes and watch that so I went to the garage and took the starter out last night.
I have two coppoer posts on the starter and a flat connector. One one of the posts was the lead from the battery, on the flat connector was a wire, probably from the ignition.
I took the starter and laid it on the ground, completely disconnected from the truck. I then grounded the motor housing and put power to the two copper posts (one at a time). Touching one copper post did nothing and the other gave off sparks but nothing else. Touching the flat connector with the power got the starter turning but I have no idea if it was turning at its normal rate, I have no idea what it looks like when it turns on. But that is what I am seeing.
I have two coppoer posts on the starter and a flat connector. One one of the posts was the lead from the battery, on the flat connector was a wire, probably from the ignition.
I took the starter and laid it on the ground, completely disconnected from the truck. I then grounded the motor housing and put power to the two copper posts (one at a time). Touching one copper post did nothing and the other gave off sparks but nothing else. Touching the flat connector with the power got the starter turning but I have no idea if it was turning at its normal rate, I have no idea what it looks like when it turns on. But that is what I am seeing.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Duluth, MN
When you supply power to the starter the starting gear should spin rapidly and be extended out of the starter housing. When power is removed the gear will retract and stop spinning.
If you can get it to function as above, it most likely is just a poor connection. Clean up the terminals and put some dielectric grease on them and reinstall. If the gear does not spin or does not extend from the starter housing, it is toast. Hope this helps.
If you can get it to function as above, it most likely is just a poor connection. Clean up the terminals and put some dielectric grease on them and reinstall. If the gear does not spin or does not extend from the starter housing, it is toast. Hope this helps.
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Originally Posted by pmleow
When you supply power to the starter the starting gear should spin rapidly and be extended out of the starter housing. When power is removed the gear will retract and stop spinning.
If you can get it to function as above, it most likely is just a poor connection. Clean up the terminals and put some dielectric grease on them and reinstall. If the gear does not spin or does not extend from the starter housing, it is toast. Hope this helps.
If you can get it to function as above, it most likely is just a poor connection. Clean up the terminals and put some dielectric grease on them and reinstall. If the gear does not spin or does not extend from the starter housing, it is toast. Hope this helps.
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From: Kansas City
it should spin pretty fast. It should sound like a high speed drill.
Where did you get power? (a battery charger may not have enough power to fully spin it up)
If you still have it out, you can take it to the parts store. Most have a bench test that puts a load on the starter and tests how much current it uses.
It turning slow and sparking when you put power to the large plug could indicate a short.
Where did you get power? (a battery charger may not have enough power to fully spin it up)
If you still have it out, you can take it to the parts store. Most have a bench test that puts a load on the starter and tests how much current it uses.
It turning slow and sparking when you put power to the large plug could indicate a short.
Last edited by clstrfbc; Jul 24, 2006 at 07:47 PM.
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Originally Posted by clstrfbc
it should spin pretty fast. It should sound like a high speed drill.
Where did you get power? (a battery charger may not have enough power to fully spin it up)
If you still have it out, you can take it to the parts store. Most have a bench test that puts a load on the starter and tests how much current it uses.
It turning slow and sparking when you put power to the large plug could indicate a short.
Where did you get power? (a battery charger may not have enough power to fully spin it up)
If you still have it out, you can take it to the parts store. Most have a bench test that puts a load on the starter and tests how much current it uses.
It turning slow and sparking when you put power to the large plug could indicate a short.
Yeah, I took it to the store and it tested fine there. But I think that was because it had been sitting in the sun in the back of my other truck all day.
I had my reciept (from 1999
) and the guy exchanged it for me. The truck started right up with the new starter.
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From: Kansas City
It could have been the rolling around too. Works like the old mechanical agitation adjustment. Fixes some things, some times, but who knows for how long.
starters and alternators, I don't competely trust the store tests. I only half trust them. I've seen the charging system test say a battery is fine a dozen times, and it still won't hold a charge.
but anyway...
Congrats!!
starters and alternators, I don't competely trust the store tests. I only half trust them. I've seen the charging system test say a battery is fine a dozen times, and it still won't hold a charge.
but anyway...
Congrats!!
Last edited by clstrfbc; Jul 24, 2006 at 10:27 PM.
