5th starter in 3 years

[doclees]

OK where do I go from here. These are Advance Auto reman lifetime starters. I got about 1 year out of the first one but now about 8 months. I have a new alt, new cables, new ignition switch, new ignition key switch and the small wire to the solenoid was upgraded to the one that comes with the new starters. Now I got this down to changing it like a tire. Battery checks out OK. It is an old battery and the lead posts seem to oxidize more than my other cars.
thanks

 

[SHOZ123]

I use to have a Mustang that would use up a starter a year weather it was a new, rebuilt or JY one. I always thought it was some sort of alignment or shim problem.

 

[AREA 91]

I think SHO starters are pretty good. They don't like it when you let the oil from the oil filter run all over them though.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Those reman units arent always ''all the way rebuilt" if that makes any sence. They just fix whats broke then button it back up. I've gone thru a lot of "rebuilt" starters on my truck, about once a year or so.

 

[johndallara]

starter issues

I have gone the way of getting my starters from Ford for the SHOs, as I too have had bad experience with remans. End up spending less time and $$ in the long run.

JD

 

[itwonder]

Post corrosion on old batteries sometime occurs because the seal between the post and the case is not perfect, and acid leeches its way up the gap. Those little felt anti-corrosion rings help. The bolts that come with aftermarket cable sets are frequently of poor quality and corrode easily. The solution is to replace them with high quality cadmium plated AN aircraft bolts and nuts, available at any shop that works on General Aviation small aircraft.

 

[sho_ted]

yup, its the poor quality of the rebuilts.

 

[SHOtimer]

You just need to keep replacing them untill you get one that lasts. My SHO got a 'rebuilt' dura-last' starter from AZ about 4 years ago. I replaced that with 3 other starters in the first 6 months. Then got one that worked. It just went out about a month ago. I don't think it is the car to blame, just the poor rebuild quality of the starters.

But, I can swap those starters in about 10 min.

Doug

 

[93rev2sev]

If you own a SHO, you might as well get used to changing starters. I have resorted to having a spare starter for each car.

When one starts to labor, I can swap it out, take it apart, clean it, reassemble it, and put back in the "spares" pile. I have the "rebuild" process down to about 10 minutes and really don't need the spares anymore(eventhough I'll keep them).

If your oil cooler is leaking, it leaks right on to your starter, bringing all kinds of dirt with it. Simply removing the starter and cleaning it in and out will usually bring it back to life.

If you go to change out your starter and your block looks anything like this..your oil cooler gasket is leaking.

 

[SHO_DOODmorrris]

hah my whole block on the passenger side looks like that lol. (cam seal) my starter is original and still works perfect even with -40 C weather WITHOUT a block heater... i guess there is a bad batch of starters out there for a few years lol.

 

[290]

Bad motor mounts will **** your starter too. Happened to be about 2 months ago, and before that a year. It may be different with me having an MTX because the motor will move around a lot more than with an ATX but anyway the motor moves around quite a bit. The starter power wire is not very flexable and resists the movement and applys that force to the post on the starter. Eventually that post breaks loose also breaking the connection inside the solenoid

 

[SeanMc]

I went through 4 autozone starters in about 2 years. I picked up a Motorcraft one about 6 months ago, and it's been fine. I'm probably going to do the same with my alternator too since the original one lasted 13 years.

 

[doclees]

Great info folks. I feel much better knowing others have had this problem with frequent bad starters. I don't have nearly that much oil leaking. Probably just common leak from the filter. Engine mounts are good. Replaced about 2 years ago. I'll go back to my first plan of pulling the starter the first sign of weak starting and exchange it after putting 120v through it. Then it can be a planned maintenance.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

I dont know what you guys are doing to **** starters. They shouldnt die that easy. Keep them clean, and they WILL last.

I finally replaced the factory installed starter in my '89 at 140k last year :laugh_ti:

The old starter was still working, but drawing too many amps. And on real cold mornings <15 degrees, the batteries simply couldnt supply the load. So I swapped it out.