calijeep

how long should a starter last? !!!

I'm replacing starters every year on old Stella. and although I know i can replace the starter myself, it was the first fix I did that had me realize that chicks can wrench too..so i know its not expensive or difficult...but annoying that i have to keep doing it?

billfrank85

Make sure your heater control valve (the plastic thing above the oil filter with 4 hoses and a vacuum line on top) isn't leaking coolant down into your starter. Mine's starting to do this. I think my 94 has the original OEM starter on it, though, lol.

calijeep

yeah. i fixed my control valve and my oil filter adapter cause they were BOTH leaking on the starter and gumming it up. but that was 2 starters ago! i'm just about to go look under there to see if its tight, cause there has been a slight knock when I start her up..maybe its loose and not engaging? also batter cables are pretty shot, but I want heavy duty nice replacements and cant find decent ones. Think I'm gonna make em. Just need a high press tool.

to be honest, this is why i love love love my jeep. because with the help of this forum, i really have been able to keep her running with my own two hands. most of the time.

cpnwrench

One suggestion.....when you do replace your starter, crank the livin be-jesus outta the mounting bolts, i.e. like 5 ft. pnds over torque specs, when I did this they last a long time, HOWEVER......depending on saturation levels the undercarriage gets (muddin, sea-side excursions, leaks, etc.), I used a fitted set of duct tape patches prior to installin the starter. that is a patch which is pressed down at one side of the cylnder of the starter, then after attaching the power cables etc, press the tape over the connections and then i used a black cable tie around the whole thing....might sound crazy and a little extra effort when eventually having to service/replace, but it made it last a long time!

just a thought.

cpnwrench