starters aren't lasting...
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Joined: Jul 2002
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starters aren't lasting...
I have a 1991 F-150 lariat 5.0efi that has gone through 3 starters in about as many months. What's causing them to burn out? I'm not rolling on the ignition too long if that's even a big problem.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
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From: Central Kali
starters aren't lasting...
You might replace the start solinoid and the cable to the starter. Low voltage is hard on starters. I have had more bad luck with re-built starters then any re-built item you can buy.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 321
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From: Queen Creek, AZ
starters aren't lasting...
It's possible, depending on where you've bought the units from, that they're just super cheap units and get trashed quickly. This may be combining with something like the low-volt condition that Mike W mentioned. I bought a rebuilt unit from a local store once that crapped out 6 months later, then replaced it with a new one that's lasted a year so far with no signs of quitting.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 3
From: Bismarck, ND
starters aren't lasting...
Ditto here. The low-buck discount auto parts house starters are pathetic. Just by chance, I've got to assume your exhaust is stock? I only ask because I had no problem with a remanufactured Autolite starter on my truck until after I upgraded to a Bassani high-performance Y-pipe. Could be coincidence, but w/in months the starter died, and I'm wondering that the heat didn't kill it. I ordered a heat shield (reflective blanket) from Summit...... so far, so good on the new starter.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 755
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From: Campbell, California
starters aren't lasting...
Amen on the cheapo rebuilds. I got a rebuilt starter from Kragen Auto parts and it lasted about 3 months. Took it back and got a second one, it lasted a month. Took that one back, got my money back and said never again. Got the 3rd rebuilt unit from a local shop and never had a problem with the started since.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 322
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From: Gloucester USA
starters aren't lasting...
I'm not defending the auto parts, even though I am a CarQuest employee, but our cheap brand of starters are actually not that bad. I have one in my truck and have never had a problem, even with long tube headers. for those of you who have changed your starters 5 times, think about it. what is the chance you will get 5 bad starters in a row? slim. With that being said, quit changing the starter and complaining when it goes bad again, THE STARTER PROBABLY IS NOT THE PROBLEM. something else in your vehicle is amiss. just because the car does not start, doesn't automatically mean the starter is bad. be a good mechanic and check some other things, and quit complaining to your local parts store counterperson. its not our fault you can't figure out whats wrong. also, we don't make the parts, we just sell them.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 470
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From: Mount Prospect, IL
starters aren't lasting...
Hey Dunn
have you done any motor work here that we should know about? changing the advance on the distributor makes it harder for motor to turn over, also if you had changed pistons or heads we could have to much compression...etc...
so if you have done anywork, let us know and maybe we can come up with other solutions. (but they are right about low voltage being a possible culprit)
Drew
have you done any motor work here that we should know about? changing the advance on the distributor makes it harder for motor to turn over, also if you had changed pistons or heads we could have to much compression...etc...
so if you have done anywork, let us know and maybe we can come up with other solutions. (but they are right about low voltage being a possible culprit)
Drew
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From: Boise, Idaho
starters aren't lasting...
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 04-Aug-02 AT 09:47 PM (EST)]I had a Chevy S10 that would eat starters for breakfast. I finally went to the Chevy dealer and bought a factory rebuild starter. It was expensive, $125 or more, but it was the thing that got me back on the road. The problem was the starters I was buying from the other places were not quite the right part, they were physically too big and would end up getting pressed against the crossmember and then binding and burning up. They looked very similar to the part I got from the Chevy dealer, but the Chevy part was small enough to clear everything.
So you might try spending the extra money for a part from your friendly Ford dealer.
Edit; By the way. I took the first starter to the local parts store and had them test it on the bench. According to their testing, the starter was good. I wrestled that big bugger back in and it still wouldn't work. I fought to get it back out and took it apart. The field coils were a molten mess. It would crank on the bench, but it couldn't turn that little four cylinder engine over.
Best of luck,
So you might try spending the extra money for a part from your friendly Ford dealer.
Edit; By the way. I took the first starter to the local parts store and had them test it on the bench. According to their testing, the starter was good. I wrestled that big bugger back in and it still wouldn't work. I fought to get it back out and took it apart. The field coils were a molten mess. It would crank on the bench, but it couldn't turn that little four cylinder engine over.
Best of luck,
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