3.2L Starter compatible with the 3.0L?

[LookAtThatSHO]

Hey All,

Could someone please clarify if starters from the 3.2L ATX engines are 100% compatible / functional on the 3.0L MTX engines?

(Mods: My apologies if this should have been posted in Electrical & Audio section.)

Thanks!
-Mike

 

[hawkeye18]

First, it's an engine part, so I think it's in the right section.

In any case, AFAIK both starters will swap to the other engine just fine; the difference is that the ATX starter has 12 teeth and the MTX starter has 10 teeth. The extra teeth are to deal with the added - er, whatever it is that the 3.2l has.

So, yes, an ATX starter will work fine on an MTX car. An MTX starter will work fine on an ATX car... for a short time; the added stress on the MTX starter will burn it out.

This is why ATX owners are always cautioned to check the teeth on their ordered starters; MTX owners need not worry - 10 or 12 will work just fine.

 

[LookAtThatSHO]

Excellent - thanks for the answer AND additional details!

 

[bubba]

Yup and it will start the car alittle faster also! Eric just put one on his car

 

[Shoaz]

Yes, the 10-tooth and 12-tooth starters in the GenII are essentially interchangeable, but be aware that the GenI cars had a completely different starter system. The wiring between the GenI and GenII starters are not compatible without rework.

 

[firebat45]

So us 3.2 MTX guys should be using the ATX starter? Or any of the 3.2+ bored guys? How about the high-compression 3.0 guys?

 

[SHO Continental]

Besides the tooth count the 3.0 Starter gear is slightly larger. FWIW I ran one on my ATX for about a year, then the gear let go, just got a whiiiirrr when I went to start. I put an 3.2 starter in my brother's '92, it's worked fine for a little over a year now. So I would only go 3.2 starter on a 3.0, not the other way around.

 

[hawkeye18]

So I would only go 3.2 starter on a 3.0, not the other way around.

That's what I said...

 

[Mr Anonymous]

WTF are youz guyz talkin' 'bout!?!?!?

It's the MTX starters that originally went to the 12-tooth drive in '93.

Prior to that, '92 and '93 cars (ATX and MTX) came with 9- or 10-tooth drive starters.

All MTX cars built after ~5/93 received a 12-tooth drive starter.

ATX cars continued getting 9- or 10-tooth drive starters until they were exhausted from inventory which as best as I can tell was about mid-way through the '94 model year. All '95 model year cars got 12-tooth drive starters.

Here is the original TSB on the 12-tooth drive starters: Ford TSB 93-3-8

As to the OP's original question, as Shoaz mentioned all Gen 2 starters are 100% interchangeable, whether MTX or ATX.

Any time a Gen 2 starter needs replacing, I recommend people find their local WAI dealer (usually an "Auto Electric" shop) and just buy a new starter instead of a rebuild. The WAI starters are 100% new, have a 12-tooth drive, and should come with at least a 1-year warranty (and most places I've dealt with will give a lifetime warranty). They're also under $100 at most places which is usually cheaper than a rebuild elsewhere. Ask for a Lester 3230 (just the industry standard cross-reference). I have never had a WAI starter fail.

Rebuilt starters can be a crapshoot, not only because of the varying quality of the rebuild (and cheapo brush sets are usually the problem) but because you never know which starter drive you'll get.

 

[Toolman]

Good info. FYI, my rebuilds run about $40.

 

[mattsho1993]

old post new question? I have swapped the gears on the bendix's before. I have a warrantied starter at autozone for my MTX my girl just called me her ATX starter took a dump, Depending on the teeth count i should be able to swap the gears right... '93 MTX- '93 ATX