Burnig up starters

[doclees]

OK I'm on my 4th Advance Auto starter since 05. Is it just they are poor rebuilts or is something else going on here. Funny I was just thinking it was time to pull it and wire it to 120v so I could exchange it before it left the wife stranded. Too late.

 

[Mr95Gl]

Could just be the rebuilds. I'm on my 3rd one. Or you could run better wiring, and terminals from the starter to battery.

 

[TREpaNaTion]

I took mine in and had it rebuilt a while back and haven't had a problem with it since. Good luck though.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Well.. definately old or bad wiring could definately be a culprit. How old are your cables, and how tight are you tightening that ground wire to the starter? I've had mine not start before, and act like I had a dead battery because something was a little loose. A little loose, means more resistance, which means more heat, and heat kills all things electrical. If you are in doubt about the wire, put a multimeter on it, and check the resistance of your wires. Should be reallllllllllllllly close to 0, if its not, you just found your problem.


Also.. as far as reman units from AZ, or Advance... they only fix what is broke, not rebuild the whole thing. If the spring was sticking, they'll replace the spring, say the brushes are about 1/2 gone... that might be good enough for them. I had a problem with AZ starters on my truck, and finally after the 3rd one, I got it rebuilt by a local guy. haven't had a problem with it yet.

 

[93rev2sev]

Lots of times, the starters get oil leaked on them from the oil cooler seal. Then, the internals get gummed up and the starter begins to labor and overheat. Sometimes you can remove the starter and dissassemble it, giving it a good cleaning. If you remove your starter and it's oil soaked, you can bet thats why it failed.

 

[doclees]

Cable are new. Alt is new. Oil leaks are old. The starter gets a fair amount of oil on it but not huge. So the oil leak is coming from the filter seal or another seal under the oil cooler?
thanks

 

[93rev2sev]

Most likely it's the oil cooler to block seal. It can be replaced using your 30mm axle socket and a new oil filter's seal.

The last starter the I had fail, did so after about 5 months. When I took it out, there was a little oil on the surface. When I took it apart...it was obvious why it stopped turning.

 

[doclees]

Thanks all, It's time for an oil change anyway. I'll get that block to oil cooler gasket changed too. I guess that explains the oil on the filter when I am so certain that new filter gasket is well oiled before installing.

 

[SHOZ123]

I had a 4 cyl Mustang that would eat one starter a year. Didn't matter if it was a new one from Ford under warranty or a $20 from the JY. Got to the point I would always have a spare around cause I knew I would need it.

Might need a shim or something. Does it just go out without warning?

 

[Brook24v]

My first SHO went through a starter every other oil change. It never failed. Every time 6k miles rolled around, the damn car wouldn't start.

I had an O'Reily's lifetime starter.

 

[Lorenr]

Starters

Had the same problem. Every year or so I'd install a new rebuilt starter.

Here is the cure:

1. Got a life time starter with the rear support (same as OEM) from NAPA.
2. Got the correct size battery with more than stock Cold Cranking Amps.
3. Replaced all of the battery cables with new ones with good ends. A battery shop made them for me.

Put it all together and it has been six years. Replaced the battery once with the best I could get from Wal Mart. That way if anything goes south I'll at least get a free battery.

:wave:

 

[doclees]

I had a 4 cyl Mustang that would eat one starter a year. Didn't matter if it was a new one from Ford under warranty or a $20 from the JY. Got to the point I would always have a spare around cause I knew I would need it.

Might need a shim or something. Does it just go out without warning?

As 93rev2sev says "it labors" but very slowly over time and not that much. Then the wife calls saying it won't start. When I get there is starts. Next time it doesn't. The oil leak from the oil cooler sounds right. Not that much oil on the starter but when I put it a plastic bag to bring back the bag gets quite oily.