How can you tell when your starter is going bad?
 

I was working on my lady's Lexus today and when I went to the auto supply store, on my return my friend who is a Wrench Specializing in Electrical Components said my starter was going bad and should be serviced/re-built. Of course no charge.

How the heck does he know this by just listening to the starter?

He works on Cars and Planes to boot.

Any signs or symptoms you fellas can share?

Generally, she starts right up especially with the OEM spec copper plugs and brand new battery.

He said it would whine immediately after she starts, I guess I can't hear her in the cab?

:confused:

Oops my bad, Can a MOD pleas send me to the 911 tech forum, PLEASE! :D

Sometimes you can hear it or if the solenoid is clicking when you try to start it. Otherwise I cannot tell and I work on planes and cars as well.

Sometimes you can hear the 'flat' part of the brushes. They can sound weak as they pass one area compared to the next.

This belongs in OT, not Porsche Technical, as it is a Lexus

Oh no, this is on my Porsche. I went to the auto supply in my 911 that is how he heard it went I started her and drove off.

Mods?

Ah, well a Porsche starter is the same. Same symptoms, same sounds. Easy to pull and have it rebrushed, rewound, and rebushed.

my starter is bad, when i find myself push starting my 911. i dont have the ear to hear the impending failure.

i bet a rebuilder can bench test it.

On an 85 Carrera the starter is not hard to pull. It is a dirty job, but just hug the transmission and remove the starter. Take it to a local repair shop and have them rebuild it.

Does it sound like the starter has trouble disengaging and the flexplate is spinning the starter after it catches- especially if it's 1st start of the day?

Perfectly normal. My Lexus with 50K (SC400) did that crap all the time. There is a clutch that prevents damage.

rjp

Thanks Fellas,

Oh boy, another project.... joy :-)

So, there are actually peops here. Well, howdy everyone!

BTW, I am a California Real Estate Broker since 1989, so if you guys have any Real Estate related questions feel free to PM me or post and notify me I will respond.

NO OBLIGATION, NO SPAM, FREE opinion for PELICANS ONLY :D

Be glad you don't have a Toureg V8 You have to remove the engine and trans to replace the starter 27 billable hours

When you hear her staggering up the steps at 4...Oh STARTER. I read it as 'sister'. Sorry.

LOL,

Damn, now I am trying to listen real carefully. Well, at least I will have some who knows what there are doing to guide me.

__