replacing starter drive?

[Lincolnmania]

you still didnt tell me the production date of the car

[1990LTD]

I have no idea what it is. Is it on the door jamb sticker?

[1990LTD]

[jayh]

Did you call around to different stores? or is there only one parts store around?

I'm kind of spoiled, I probably have close to 10 different places I can call for prices...

[1990LTD]

There's one parts store, prettymuch. It is technically a chain store I guess but it's just got a few different stores in a few different towns. Prices don't usually vary much but I'll report back with brands and prices tomorrow anyway to see what you guys think

[Lincolnmania]

production date is on the door sticker

[1990LTD]

02/90

[gadget73]

I've had a $30 reman starter on my car for like 5 years now. Mine is the old style direct drive starter. The main failure mode on those is nothing happens when you turn the key. A smack to the starter with a hammer usually makes it go for a while. The reduction starters have a solenoid on top that throws the gear out. When that goes, it might cause the gear to not engage the flexplate, causing a whirrrrr without anything useful. Of course, a flexplate with the teeth chewed off, or loose bolts can do that too.

[1990LTD]

Yeah, stuff happens when I turn the key....just click click from the pass. side of the engine bay. It happened the other night and it took me two tries to start it, first time it's ever done it more than once. It's rare enough that I wouldn't really be able to get someone to diagnose it unless they sat there turning the car over, over and over again.


the listing on rockauto says

DENSO Part # 2805103 {Reman}
From 2/90


I guess that's when the changeover from the old style starters happened?

[1990LTD]

It also seems like it would be strangely satisfying to bash the malfunctioning part with a hammer.

[91grandmarquis]

Had to keep wacking the solenoid on my moms car for a while with a hammer, gets her to fire up, but eventually that stops working and you have to buy a new starter. That solenoid isn't in the most convenient hammering location either.

[jayh]

^ hammer the starter, not the selenoid

[gadget73]

You normally don't need to beat the crap out of it, just a rap to seat the brushes and make it go. when you start putting dents in the starter, you're hitting it too hard.

[Southern_Pride]

The direct drive starter fits if you change the cable. Way cheaper too. I kept breaking the cheap ones for awhile but that was do to the trans. The new one I put in squeaks though like it isnt disengaging all the way. Quality control sucks these days.

[sly]

My starter fails to throw out the gear to engage the flywheel from time to time. usually it hits on the second or third try when that happens.