Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Starter dragging

[Breed]

Hi,

The starter on my 98 12 Valve, appears to be dragging a little. I replaced the starter contacts with Larry B's about a year ago, I charged, checked both batteries and cleaned the terminals. Both batteries clecked ok. Any Ideas?

 

[K5IP]

How did you check your batteries? It is difficult to see if they have high internal resistance except by checking the battery terminal voltage under high load conditions.

The best way to do this is to measure one of the the battery terminals while you are under the starter motor load.



My batteries, fully charged measure 9. 6 VDc under starter load at a 75 deg ambient temperature. This may provide some reference for you.

Rog

 

[Breed]

Thanks, for the reply, Yep! The batteries seem to be fine, loads appear to be approiate, I was hoping that the starter wasn't bad, I put the Larry B's kit in the starter a while back and the Truck only has 80,000 miles on it and I though the gear reduction starter was suspossed to be really good, but it kinda looks like I'm going have to change the starter.

Breed

 

[Willys]

Before you spend the money on a new starter, check the brushes. I thought my batteries were dying on me, when the truck became slow to turn over while on a trip. I was stranded at a gas station when it wouldn't start, so I got a new pair of batteries. That didn't work, so I was in luck that an auto parts store had a starter in stock, and the gas station owner took me to pick it up.



I checked the brushes on the old one when I got home, and sure enough they had worn completely out and shorted on the armature. LarryB has brush kits. Mine was at 250k+ miles IIRC, but you might do a little more starting in your low mileage?

 

[Breed]

Many Thanks for the reply, I checked everything finally decided to change out the Starter or a new NAPA Starter which I paid $200. 00. The Reman one was $165. 00 so I opted for the new one which is guarenteed for the life of the vehicle. The new Starter corrected the problem and the trucks runs great! I was just a littled supprissed that the stock starter did not last longer as it has a great repuation as long as you change the small contacts.

Breed

 

[Extreme1]

I just replaced the brushes in mine at 297k miles. Works like new now.

 

[MacMc]

How quickly did the symptoms appear when they did? Two weeks ago, while on a road trip, it started happening to me and within a dozen starts, it took quite a while to start the truck sometimes.



I, too, replaced the batteries when I got back home, with two new Optima Blue Tops.



Problem seems to be the same. Is it the starter?

 

[Breed]

Dragging Starter

I replaced the started with a new NAPA one, and the truch starts great.

 

[Willys]

How quickly did the symptoms appear when they did? Two weeks ago, while on a road trip, it started happening to me and within a dozen starts, it took quite a while to start the truck sometimes.



I, too, replaced the batteries when I got back home, with two new Optima Blue Tops.



Problem seems to be the same. Is it the starter?

Is the starter turning the engine very slowly? I can't remember how long it took to completely die, maybe a few months. Pull the starter and check the contacts and the brushes. I think there are directions on LarryB's site.

 

[DPyles]

Mine started that and I put Larry's contacts in it and that did not fix it so I took it apart and one of the wires going to one the brushes burnt in half. I got new brushes from a local alt/hyd shop for about $6. 00 and solidered them in myself. Cleaned the starter inside and out and cleaned up the armature where the brushes ride and put it all back together and it works super. Kind of a pain but kept $200. 00 in my pocket and not NAPA's.

 

[Breed]

After I replaced the new starter (inwhich repaired the truck) I took the old starter apart and found that the starter weas full of mud and grease, I mean stuffed full of junk. I don't know how the starter got so full of crap, thick grease and mud. I cleaned it all up but haven't tried it yet.

Breed

 

[MacMc]

Is the starter turning the engine very slowly? I can't remember how long it took to completely die, maybe a few months. Pull the starter and check the contacts and the brushes. I think there are directions on LarryB's site.

Mine's taken only 3-1/2 weeks. It won't even turn over now. Thanks for the T-shooting ideas.

 

[Willys]

If it won't turn, it may have already ground out- mine got to that point and I just replaced it. Pull it, and pull the brushes out to be sure.



I need to check my replacement out though, it sounds like something gets slung around loosely inside it as it winds back down.