Archived 1995 Starter Problems

[surfbeetle]

For maybe a month now, the starter on my 1995 truck has been sounding slower than usual. The batteries seem to be fine, the volt meter has always been normal. Tonight, I was leaving church and the truck would not start. All I heard was the click of the Fuel Solenoid relay. I crawled under the truck and used a wrench to connect the hot lead over to the relay, again, all I heard was the fuel solenoid click. I swapped the starter relay with the horn relay and still nothing. About 4 years ago, I installed LarryB's starter contacts.



After I had the truck towed home tonite, the starter barely turned over, but it was enough to start it. I was able to start it twice. Anyway, I was thinking I need to rebuild the starter, but before I spend any money, I would like to know what you all think. I don't have a spare vehicle so I need to do this ASAP.

Thanks.

Craig

 

[Grumpy John 4x4]

starter

Got a original brand new Densco starter del to my house for 262. 00 from Yard Truck & Diesel Parts Specialists. FLEETSOURCE: A complete transportation industry provider.

 

[surfbeetle]

Thanks, I'll take a look at that. My uncle runs a repair shop locally so I was thinking about using his vendor that rebuilds them. I needed input (or maybe just reassurance) that it's definitely the starter and not something else in the truck. But I guess with 192,000 miles, a new starter wouldn't hurt.

 

[Skydiver]

If you decide to rebuild it all you will need is bushings and brushes if the commutator is not worn too deeply. Inspect the LB contacts for pitting. Might reuse them.



rebuilding a starter motor - Google Search

 

[surfbeetle]

So I called my uncle, got the name of his vendor and called them. The rebuild of my starter will be $110. 00. So tonight after work, I am going to pull the starter and drop it off in the morning.

 

[GAmes]

"The batteries seem to be fine" How old are they and did you get them tested? My Larry B contacts are 6 years old and I have driven over a half million miles in that time.

 

[surfbeetle]

"The batteries seem to be fine" How old are they and did you get them tested? My Larry B contacts are 6 years old and I have driven over a half million miles in that time.

Batteries are less than two years old. I know that wasn't saying much especially when the weather changes. In any event, I pulled the starter on Monday evening and dropped the starter off at a rebuild shop and $110. 00 later, it was rebuilt. I installed it back into the truck yesterday and all is well. I think that after 192,000 miles, the rest of the starter was just worn out. It had been cranking over slower over the course of the last few weeks.



I have pulled the starter out before and it had the 12 point bolts, took me less than 20 minutes to get it out. This time it was a PITA because when my clutch/flywheel was done, the mechanic put a spacer in and changed the bolts to 8mm allen wrench. Of course, with all of the tools that I have, I did not have an 8 mm allen wrench. I had to go to Sears and by the time I had the starter out, the whole process took an hour and a half. Going back in was only 20 minutes since this time, I had the damn wrench.

 

[GAmes]

I think you jinxed me after bragging on the miles my starter has been performing#@$%!:-laf. After fishing the first day of a two day tournament my starter wouldn't do anything but click when I turned the key. A friend of mine pull started me (thankfully I don't have an automatic). I just replaced my batteries last week because they were 7 years old and I was getting a slow start. Had to pack up and come home:{, and the fishing was good. I dissassembled the electrical side today and cleaned everything up and gave it a try. Just a slow growning turnover So I pulled it back off and took the case apart on the gear side. I'll be ordering a new one tomorrow, probably from Fleetsource. Guess I can't complain. Nearly 717k and one set of Larry B contacts (which don't look too bad, I'll be keeping them).

 

[surfbeetle]

That's what happened to mine, it just got slower and slower until it wouldn't budge. How did you pull start it? Did you tie the fuel solenoid up before pop starting? I figure that would be the only way.

 

[GAmes]

To tell you the truth I didn't even think about the solenoid. After we hooked up the tow strap I tried "one more time" with the key. In retrospect the click I heard was the solenoid going up because it never clicked on the second try. I had to leave the key on to turn the steering wheel so the plunger stayed up. Got lucky on that part