New Starter = Peace of mind...

Carl83911 · 05-01-2007, 03:47 PM

There was a point where I would hesitate going on a long drive where the car would get pretty hot. After stopping, the car will not re-start. this happened intermittently. Some trips, no problem. other times, I get my monies worth with my jumper cables. Lastly I started carring a portable jumper where I would not have to bother anyone for a jump until one day I needed to use it several times until the spare juice ran out of the jumper.

I finally broke down and replaced my OEM starter to a high-torque and no more starting problems.

Went on a 1k mile trip down the Cali coast last week on vacation and never had the starting problems I once had.

Yipeeekeeeyaayea!!!!!

Thank Jimmy for installing the unit before my trip.

on-ramp · 05-01-2007, 04:03 PM

Same issue on my 83sc... would not start occasionally when the engine was warm or hot. Big pain when driving away over the weekend. .. a new starter solved all problems. one less thing to worry about

randywebb · 05-01-2007, 04:11 PM

I hope yours works better than mine did. After a couple thousand miles, the pinion gear is all chewed up.

Ray B · 05-01-2007, 04:43 PM

New starter is my project for this week. Brand new from autozone $108. with lifetime waranty. If it's a POS and I have to switch it out every year it may not be such a deal. Time will tell.

Carl83911 · 05-01-2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by randywebb
I hope yours works better than mine did. After a couple thousand miles, the pinion gear is all chewed up.

You mean the gear on the starter? which HT starter did you use?

rnln · 05-01-2007, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Carl83911
There was a point where I would hesitate going on a long drive where the car would get pretty hot. After stopping, the car will not re-start. this happened intermittently. Some trips, no problem. other times, I get my monies worth with my jumper cables. Lastly I started carring a portable jumper where I would not have to bother anyone for a jump until one day I needed to use it several times until the spare juice ran out of the jumper.

I finally broke down and replaced my OEM starter to a high-torque and no more starting problems.

Went on a 1k mile trip down the Cali coast last week on vacation and never had the starting problems I once had.

Yipeeekeeeyaayea!!!!!

Thank Jimmy for installing the unit before my trip.

I am confused. How can a jumper cable help if your problem is the starter? Jumper cable is only useful if your batery is dead and your starter is in good condition.

rnln · 05-01-2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Carl83911
You mean the gear on the starter? which HT starter did you use?

I also read somewhere on this board saying HT starter do some damage to the tranny or whatever related.

rnln · 05-01-2007, 09:25 PM

I heard the solenoid cost $30 only. Please post your feedback with autozone starter, after maybe couple months.
Thanks.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ray B
New starter is my project for this week. Brand new from autozone $108. with lifetime waranty. If it's a POS and I have to switch it out every year it may not be such a deal. Time will tell.

Ray B · 05-02-2007, 03:43 AM

I'll let you know. I don't think you can buy the soleniod alone. Maybe you could have it repaired by a shop,

randywebb · 05-02-2007, 10:38 AM

"You mean the gear on the starter? which HT starter did you use?" Yes, the pinion gear is on the starter. I used the one that Pelican sells. Not yet sure why the problem exists, but the starter is almost brand new...

- BTW, an elec. shop can probably put a new solenoid on your unit. Find one that does work for German cars.

911pcars · 05-02-2007, 10:59 AM

My current starter has been in there for eons. I think it might be the same part used on some VW bugs. I have a high torque starter waiting when I pull the engine for some future cam replacement.

At any rate, the Bosch solenoids are nothing unusual. Like Randy suggests, an electrical shop could be a source.

Sherwood

Carl83911 · 05-02-2007, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rnln
I am confused. How can a jumper cable help if your problem is the starter? Jumper cable is only useful if your batery is dead and your starter is in good condition.

The Starter selonoid is the culprit. after a couple of decades, the selonoid gets a bit tired from all the heat coming from the heat exchangers which results in more resistance. so when it gets hot, the selonoid refuses to kick on to activate the starter. An extra boost from a jump sometimes helps.

trconway · 05-02-2007, 04:48 PM

So what is the solution when I need a new starter? Does anyone have experience with the lighter weight starter sold at Pelican?

911pcars · 05-02-2007, 10:56 PM

The options:

New starter from PAG
New starter from ?
Rebuilt starter
Rebuild your own starter
Previously-owned starter
Hi torque starter

RE: the HT starter. I purchased mine from eBay. The working guts are rebuilt/remanufactured and installed in a new hi-torque housing. There is probably a version (Pelican?) that contains all new components.

Starters are pretty low-tech and should last a long time. They only operate for a couple of seconds at a time, maybe only a total of a few hours use spanning several years.

Sherwood

trconway · 05-03-2007, 07:55 AM

So the starter on the engine/trans I just removed from my car and which was working when removed should be left on? Of course I realize this is a question without a definitive answer but I am just trying to decide what to do. Replacing the starter before I re-install the engine would be alot easier than once everything is back together.

Tom

911pcars · 05-03-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by trconway
So the starter on the engine/trans I just removed from my car and which was working when removed should be left on? Of course I realize this is a question without a definitive answer but I am just trying to decide what to do. Replacing the starter before I re-install the engine would be alot easier than once everything is back together.

Tom

I agree with your last sentence, but replacing the starter on the vehicle is not impossible, just not as easy with the engine removed.

Sherwood

Nostril Cheese · 05-03-2007, 11:17 AM

on my Carerra, I disassembled the solenoid and cleaned up the contacts inside. The repeated arcing over the years builds up corrosion. Havent had the problem since.

rnln · 07-24-2007, 10:52 PM

I am getting ALL CONFUSED now. I have read this thread over and over couple months ago and decided to replace my old starter, with a rebuilt unit. It lasted several months and now it happend again, occationally. Am I just in bad luck, so I should come back and ask for another one? It's still under waranty. Or if this model of starter is a bad design from start, I should dissect it and clean it up myself?
Another question, which part is the problem? The starter itself (bigger piece), or the solenoid piece?
I read someone took it apart and machine (grind) the inside of the housing to make it bigger. Anyone know about this?

Ray B · 05-27-2008, 05:17 AM

Bringing this thread back form last year. My "good deal" autozone starter acting up again. It intermittantly starts-other times just clicks. Seems to do better with fresh charge on battery or sometimes i can make if work if I simply clean the battery terminals. I've triple checked and cleaned all grounds (including tranny). I spoke with a local race shop owner who immediately asked if the starter was a remanufactured unit. He said that is where the problem probably is because of the half-a$$ed way they are rebuilt. He suggested a brand new unit. Any thoughts and Bosch OEM new ($$) versus high torque versus reman. Thanks is advance.

rnln · 05-27-2008, 08:35 AM

Rebuilt unit has premature problem is normal to any car, but in our car, many people include myself found that the signal wire from ign key to the starter (yellow wire) has intermediate problem.
When your won't start, can you measure the voltage at this wire while trying to crank? Mine said around 7v while it showed 11v when it works normal.