Starter new or rebuilt

[ganun]

Well, after 3hrs at 80 I pull up for a pit stop and click but it won't turn over, luckily a couple of guys gave me a push start. Made it home and the next day it starts just fine, but now don't trust the old starter.
How reliable are these Bosch rebuilt, or should I just put in a new one. It's an 87 so I have to drop the nose of the trans.
Thanks.

[Oh Haha]

Nice looking 911.

I had my starter rebuilt about 6years ago by a local shop and it has worked without issue since. I believe I paid about $75 at the time.

[ganun]

Good tip , was thinking of just that, Thanks

[Targa Me]

Starters and alternators, I never buy new, I always have them rebuilt.

[Nick Triesch]

A few years ago my 85 did not start so after a push start I got it home put it up on jack stands. I took the wires off the starter and cleaned then up at the connections. ( really dirty and greasy). Then when done I smacked the starter with a rawhide mallet several times. Car started right up and has worked great several trips later.

[vancouver86/911]

I had the same problem with my starter. I bought a new starter and the solenoid was bad right out of the box. I had to tap it with a mallet to get it to engage. I took it back and luckily retrieved my old starter back and had it rebuilt. I have never had a problem with it since.

[Reiver]

Solenoid is a known weak spot (so I'm told) on the Bosch unit...have you considered a smaller/lighter high torque starter? Our host has those and I'm pleased with mine. Seems to take up 1/2 the space.

[88911coupe]

Any way to tell if the issue is the solenoid or the starter itself?

[db_cooper]

Don't condemn your starter just yet..could be the problem..or maybe not.

If your battery ground cable is original (or twenty years old), replace it. Our host sells that cable and the ground strap that fits under the car, between the transmission and the chassis..do them both if they have never been changed.

My 911 had the same problem as yours...I replaced the battery was it was seven years old with a new AMG and cleaned the battery ground connections. Still had an intermittent no start.

I changed the original battery ground cable and the engine started perfectly thereafter. I suspect the copper braiding was just old on the ground cable. It looked fine.

I also changed the underside chassis ground too..after the fact..good preventive maintenance.

Both ground cables from our host cost me about $30 with shipping.

[salukijac]

I went with a new High Torque Starter as it's basically the same price as a remanufatured one. I've read people having issues with the remanufactured Bosch so I went with the new High Torque. And by the way, it is smaller and lighter. I had mine replaced by my mechanic as I didn't want to deal with dropping the engine a few inches for installation.

[GH85Carrera]

Your choice is to have your current starter rebuilt and then go through and makes sure every connection is tight and solid and the grounds are perfect. The odds are 50/50 that will work as a cure.

I am one of the folks that takes long drives and a good multi hour heat soak plays hell on those old Bosch starters. I had my original starter rebuilt, and I even had a fresh factory rebuilt unit both fail to start the engine when hot. You can squirt some water on the starter and it will cool off enough to start or wait 45 minutes. It will be fine until the next real heat soak.

I finally gave up on the Bosch started and replaced mine with the small high torque starter. I drove to Monterey, CA and back this summer and had no problems.

I can testify that a wife gets real upset standing in a hot parking lot in Savanna, GA in August 1,100 miles from home because the starter refuses to turn over.

[ganun]

Thanks GH, yeah, leaning towards a hi torque lately, just waiting for this to happen again is no fun.

[GH85Carrera]

Yep, every time it was HOT and the car had been run for a while I just got tense. I never had the problem around town even in a one hour drive. As soon as I hit the road it would fail to start. The high torque starter sound "funny" and does not have that Porsche sound but I prefer a funny sounding starter that works every time.

I have two Bosch Starters I guess I need to put on the for sale section.

[Jesse16]

I recommend new. Unless you find a rebuilder that will give you 5 year warrenty. ( my rebuild lasted 18 months ).

[patz]

No such animal as a new 911 Bosch Starters. They are remans from unknown sources with a lifetime warranty. YOU pay the labor.

OR

Rebuilt by a local that you can strangle when it goes bad.

OR

A new hi torque Japanese model.

OR

Or whack the solenoid with a BFH when it sticks.

I use the whack method every year or so.

[uwanna]

The old EBAY high torque mini starter guy HiperformanceUSA is back selling on Ebay.
I have had this same starter on my 3.6 964/915 transplant for several years, not one problem.
You will notice the link states "Porsche 912 mini starter".Scroll further down the ad and you will see all the cars it fits, including 911s from 69-89! $106+ free shipping
Heck, that's almost a throw away price!
EDIT: seller has added this note about an included shim, which some folks on Pelican said they needed.
"Units now come supplied with alignment shim. Not required on most applications, but if alignment issue between pinion gear and flywheel comes up, then this will eliminate your issue."
Porsche 912 Mini Starter | eBay

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by uwanna

The old EBAY high torque mini starter guy HighperformanceUSA is back selling on Ebay.
I have had this same starter on my 3.6 964 for several years, not one problem...

Same here, 4 years with no problems on a 3.2. I did not need the shim.

[OsoMoore]

I had my starter heat-soak one hot day driving a few hundred miles. When I got it home I installed the hot start relay kit. In the two years since then I've had no troubles. Connections are much cleaner seeing as I've dropped the engine since that time.

[rnln]

I had same problem which happened several times. Each time it happened, either push start or sit and wait for it to cool down. I rebuilt the starter, $120 or so, problem didn't go away. After a lot of tests, I found that the yellow wire from ignition key put out 12+ volts usually, but it only has 11v when this problem occur. Replaced this wire, problem is gone until now (years). There are many threads on this "yellow wire" of you search.

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Yep, every time it was HOT and the car had been run for a while I just got tense. I never had the problem around town even in a one hour drive. As soon as I hit the road it would fail to start. The high torque starter sound "funny" and does not have that Porsche sound but I prefer a funny sounding starter that works every time.

I have two Bosch Starters I guess I need to put on the for sale section.

[88911coupe]

rnln, I have read those threads and still can't really picture the "route" of the yellow wire. Can you tell me this in reference to an '88?