replacing starter drive?

[gadget73]

At this point if the drive is going, the bearings in the starter probably aren't far off. Why not spend the money NOW on a whole new reman instead of wasting all this time and money on doing it the hard way?

Exactly why I do not fix starters, and why I never replace just the solenoid on a late style Ford or any Chevy starter. If one part gave up, I just figure the rest is not far behind. The original starter on my car gave 20 years of service before the brushes wore down. I could have stuck new brushes in there, but I didn't trust it to not die in some way I couldn't fix with a hammer long enough to get me home.

[1990LTD]

am I correct in thinking that either style starter will work; one would bolt on and the other would require slight change in wiring?


I can't find anywhere that can give me a definitive answer as to which mine has since it's 02/90.

[gadget73]

they both physically fit, and the late model one can be made to work with minor wiring changes.


Have a look at your starter relay next to the battery. On the side with one wire, is it a cable the size of a battery cable, or is it much smaller? If its fat, its the early style starter. If its skinny, its a late model starter.

[1990LTD]

Local parts counter has one, 160 with my starter and it's got a 2 yr warranty. They only have one in their system for 1990 cars, not the 2 like are talked about. It's a possibility Canadian market cars only got one style but that would be kind of an oddball piece to have like that. Anyway, after a gig last night I drove a friend home and after leaving his place my starter decided to go tits up. Not for reals (since it started to get me to work today on the 1st try), but the drive gave me a hard enough time that I am calling it dead. Standing out in the shitty fucking windy ass weather for that amount of time was enough motivation to 86 the drive replacement and just borrow money to buy the whole motor.

I'll have the starter in my hands in a few minutes (someone is picking it up for me since I'm at work) and bolted to my car when I'm out of here for the day.

[1990LTD]

[andymac0035]

That's the newer style like I have.

There's a smaller wire that connects to a spade connector on top of that starter.
Make sure the plug for that is cleaned well for a good connection.

[1990LTD]

Hopefully it's the one my car needs If it is not, what are the differences in wiring?


That relay you speak of gadget, is it right down next to the battery somewhat concealed in the fender? The single wire going to the side of that seems to be somewhat larger than what I would call skinny, so I am assuming mine is the direct drive starter. I don't have a jack or stands with me here at work to put it up and climb under to look at it.


so yeah, what changes in wiring will I need to go to the new style? the flywheel doesn't care what kind is spinning it, does it?

[1990LTD]

also andy if you have a link to your thread for the starter install that would be awesome...the search function isnt working now

[andymac0035]

also andy if you have a link to your thread for the starter install that would be awesome...the search function isnt working now

It's working for me......

Here's one showing a conversion from old-style to new.
http://grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.p...t=mini+starter

I actually replaced mine before I found this site, so my install thread is over on....gasp.....CVN.
Not sure if it's cool to post links to that here or not.

[1990LTD]

It won't return anything for me. I thought it was my search terms but then I tried "V8" and "Grand Marquis" and neither brought back any hits

[andymac0035]

I used "mini+starter"