Starter Question, High Torque or regular Options

[pin31]

I think my starter died this weekend. Everything was fine last weekend when I went for a nice drive. Alternator charging good, new battery, no shorts or bad grounds etc..

Turn key and get the solionid click. I have checked the battery (12.35V) cleaned ground connection and terminals, cleaned connections on starter, cleaned connection to transmission ground strap...every thing looks good.

Also I have bypassed the '74 seatbelt relay (a while back) so thats no longer in the starter circuit.

Other than the ignition switch (which I am buying a spare to have on hand) is there anything else I've overlooked??

I'm thinking it's the starter and I'm about to buy one. Do you reccomend the rebuilt Bosch or the new high torque ones (lifetime warrenty)? Is there anything I need to be aware of with the high torque unit (i.e. will it bolt right in etc..)?

Thanks,
Tim

[John]

Nobody suggested it yet?

Give it a healthy whack with a soft faced (rubber) mallet or short piece of 2X4. (hit the motor, not the solenoid)

If the starter then functions, you might as well plan on replacing it. Sometimes a stuck bendix will happen on an old occasionally starter. It could also be worn teeth.

Did you hear a clunk and no spinning? Put the car in gear and rock it back and forth. Then try the starter. If it engages normally, you may be looking at worn teeth on the starter or on the flywheel.

A starter is a relatively simple device. (actually two devices).

1. A solenoid. A low current coil that when energized causes the bendix to throw and engage the flywheel teeth.

2. A high torque DC motor. When the Bendix is thrown full extension, the circuit is completed allowing the motor to run. If the Bendix is not fully extended, the motor will not spin. Things preventing the Bendix from fully extending would be obstructions like flywheel teeth, foreign objects in the way, or a sticky Bendix itself.

Good luck to you.