Starter grinds on after engine catches -- 4 Q's

[Matthew W. Woodruff]

1. What causes the starter motor to continue spinning (making quite a racket) after the motor catches? I am leaning toward the starter solenoid.

2. Is the starter solenoid part of the starter itself, i.e., do they get replaced as a unit?

3. How long do I have before the starter self-destructs? This has happened about six times already; I need to start the car about 6 more times before I can replace the starter.

4. Can I replace the starter in my driveway? It is an un-bolt and replace operation or is more involved?

Thanks.

[AMX factor]

If you drop the starter it probably could just use a good cleaning. The nose of the starter is notorious for collecting and holding dirt grease, road grime etc etc and many times these cause the starter gear to stay engaged. You can drop it and spay the inside out with carb cleaner and that might do it. But since your gonna have it out might not hurt to run it to a parts store and have them check it out, most do it for free. Or you could just get a new starter they aren't that expensive. They are easy to drop, just remmebr to disconnect the battery or you'll end up getting showered in sparks when your wrench hits the frame!

[Sitting Bull]

Originally posted by Matthew W. Woodruff:
1. What causes the starter motor to continue spinning (making quite a racket) after the motor catches? I am leaning toward the starter solenoid.

2. Is the starter solenoid part of the starter itself, i.e., do they get replaced as a unit?

3. How long do I have before the starter self-destructs? This has happened about six times already; I need to start the car about 6 more times before I can replace the starter.

4. Can I replace the starter in my driveway? It is an un-bolt and replace operation or is more involved?

Thanks.1) This is usually the bendix spring inside the starter. Take it to A-zone for testing - but I would assume replacement is in your future

2) One the 89's, I beleive it is attached to the starter, and can be purchased seperately.

3) Your grinding your teeth off the flywheel - so the starter isn't really much of a concern when you compare the prices to change that. Fix it ASAP

4) Yip, two bolts, a few electrical connections. Can be done in an hour or two.

[Quartermaster]

Yes, by all means, remove the battery cable because if you do manage to get the cable off without touching the wrench to the frame it's only a matter of time until the live cable will hit something metal.

As a side note, the bolts are metric and each is a different size.

[kjax]

http://www.napaonline.com/images_products/full_sized/26528.jpg

The starters are easy to take apart and inspect. Clean it up, take it apart, take a look at the brushes, armature, starter drive assy. Clean everything up as best you can, including the housing. Can clean the armature with 800/1000 grit sand paper. Probably cheapest to just replace starter with reman. unit, but doesn't cost anything but time to just clean yours and see if anything obvious is wasted.

www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/1963-1983-Wagoneers/wag_start1.jpg (http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/1963-1983-Wagoneers/wag_start1.jpg)
www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/1963-1983-Wagoneers/wag_start2.jpg (http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/1963-1983-Wagoneers/wag_start2.jpg)
www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/1963-1983-Wagoneers/wag_start3.jpg (http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/1963-1983-Wagoneers/wag_start3.jpg)
www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/1963-1983-Wagoneers/wag_start4.jpg (http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/1963-1983-Wagoneers/wag_start4.jpg)

[ September 29, 2003, 12:36 PM: Message edited by: kjax ]

[wagdriver]

If you have done any work on the beast especially the dust cover on the front of the transmission, be sure that you did not bend the cover, it allows the bolts on the fly wheel to hit the and it make quite a racket. I just did the rear main seal and made that mistake I to thought I had starter problems. Turns out it was just my dumb mechanican. ;)