Starter time? Bosch rebuild or New Hi Torque?

01sport · 12-14-2007, 10:14 PM

87 Carrera, 42k Stock 3.2.

Twice out of the last ten times I have started my car my starter motor has announced it's refusal to engage fully with the ring gear. You know, the horrible grinding screech. After doing lots of research here on Pelican my guess is that I will eventually have to replace the starter/solenoid. I will however check battery, cable corrosion and broken ring gear/pinion teeth before launching headlong into this DIY.

This morning was the second time in the last 18 years that the starter has made this grinding noise so I'm guessing that the ring gear is in good shape. I would however like to repair this problem as I do not relish the idea of dropping the engine to replace the ring gear.

My inclination it to go with a stock Bosch rebuild but I'd hate to roll the dice and maybe get stuck with a bad rebuild and have to change it out again in 2 years. Can I get a New Bosch Starter?

What would you guys do?

Thanks,
Jeff

rnln · 12-15-2007, 02:43 PM

The shop in OC I replaced mine with a bosch rebuilt unit (for $100 bucks if I remember right) because I had the famous problem of not starting sometimes. Not starting = quiet. After replaced, it get better but the problem still comming back once in a while. I thought rebuilt = bad. Today, I just found my real problem, the famous yellow wire, not the starter.
question on cylinder head temp sensor
So if you want to try him, let me know. I will send you contact info.

01sport · 12-15-2007, 08:11 PM

Thanks rnln. Glad you found your problem. Fortunately my starter always turns just sometimes it grinds. I have read that the starter does not start turning until the solenoid bottoms out and the solenoid cannot bottom out unless the pinion gear is first fully engaged in the ring gear. If this is entirely true then the only thing that makes sense is a broken tooth/teeth on the ring gear. I'm not in a big hurry to do a partial transmission drop to change a starter motor that may be good. Nor am I excited about dropping the engine to change a ring gear that may only have minor damage. I've never done either of these drops however I used to drop the engine out of my 67 bus all the time.

Jeff

9elf · 12-15-2007, 08:21 PM

You don't need to drop anything to get the starter out mate.

Just reach around the trans for the top bolt.

Your right arm and chest will get dirty though.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

I love my hi-torque. Started perfectly for last 4 years.

rnln · 12-15-2007, 11:13 PM

Your is a 87, same as mine. You will most likely have to partial drop to get the starter off there. You can not rech over the tranny from the other side because the slave cylinder is on the way. I and many people here went through this. I have tried it with the hope of not droping anything and I didn't success, almost 2 days with shop lift.
Partial droping the tranny end is easier then I thought. The shop has a stand to support the tranny. The cross bar easily come off after removing several bolts. The only thing you have to get your hand dirty is the join at the front end of the tranny, connecting to the shifter. There is one bolt there after you remove the boot. When that bolt come off, you can pry the join forward and the drop the tranny.