Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) A question about starter contacts by those who have also changed them?

[tolmsted]

As an after thought I had today about changing my starter contacts the other day I thought about asking our members if you found both old contacts showed wear?



I had my starter on the bench with the contact case on top and after removing the cover I found that the contact on the left to be almost worn through and the other contact had hardly any ware marks. In fact, I now think I should have only replaced the single worn contact and left the other one alone. But, I now have a spare contact. :-laf



What you say?





PS: I could not see any difference in weight and/or thickness between the old OEM contacts and the new so called "Supersize contacts"



Agree or disagree?

 

[Joe Mc]

Both of mine were pretty close, I recall one being a little thicker though. I recall a definite difference between the beefiness of the LarryB contacts compared to the stock ones.

 

[davemac]

One of mine was very thin, the other just slightly worn. I agree with Joe Mc about Larry B`s contacts. Since one was worn more than the other I wonder if you could just switch them.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I've changed the battery side contact twice ( Had auto electric shop change both them out last year the new owner wouldn't sell me just one).



The battery contact wears out the most.

 

[JTitone]

What was going on with your starters that made you go and change the contacts? Was there something obvious or did you replace them as a preventative maint measure?

 

[hsmith]

I was having slow cranking with mine. I had already replaced the contacts earlier last year. Pulled it back apart, replaced contacts/plunger again along with new brush/holder assembly. Like new again. Brushes were worn 75%.

 

[tolmsted]

One of mine was very thin, the other just slightly worn. I agree with Joe Mc about Larry B`s contacts. Since one was worn more than the other I wonder if you could just switch them.

Not saying you could not interchange the contacts, however the battery side contact has about twice the surface area vs the other contact.



Thanks guys for responding to my question. I guess the contacts Geno's sells are not the Larry B's thicker contacts. I never asked, stupid me. #@$%! Live and learn. The older I get, I ask more questions but once again I slipped up. DUH!



Cheers, Tom

 

[hsmith]

Oh, I think you may be wrong there. Think Geno's sell only Larry B's.

 

[Skydiver]

I did the Larry B contact swap out about 2 years ago. My stock had stuck (45 seconds) and were very one sided.

It even drives better since then. LOL

 

[Mishkaya]

What was going on with your starters that made you go and change the contacts? Was there something obvious or did you replace them as a preventative maint measure?

I replaced mine on both the '01 and the '02 as a preventative measure as I have heard the horror stories of what can happen if the solenoid sticks due to worn out contacts... Cheap insurance in my book; not to mention the fact that I really hate being stuck on the side of the road... :{

 

[Bob Cochran]

I changed mine to Larry B's as well. It turned out not to be my problem but glad I changed anyway. The problem actually was the clutch safety switch. I just assumed it was the starter contacts a volt meter would have told me it was not DUH!!!!