[Cloud9...68]

This only happens when the car has sat for a period of time. When I first turn the key the first time I start the car on any given day, it makes a grinding sound, like the starter teeth haven't quite engaged the flywheel teeth. It's as if the starter shaft doesn't quite extend all the way to mesh with the flywheel teeth on the first try. The rest of the starts I mke throughout the day are fine. It's a pretty new starter (less than two years old). The problem is definitely not the "gummy starter syndrome" which I have had with the previous starter. It sounds like the starter solenoid. Is the soleoid available as a separate part, or would I have to buy another new starter, if this is the cause? Thanks.

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[flash]

don't think that because a component is fairly new that it has not failed - starters, especially rebuilt ones are particularly subject to failure

starters work backwards of what most people think

check this out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starter_solenoid

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[Cloud9...68]

Just so I cover this question in both threads where we're talking about starter problems, I know a lot of people bought rebuilt staters from Sunset when they were selling them for $100. Could I have a show of hands as to how many of these have gone bad? Thanks.

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[flash]

it's one of those things that has a higher rate of failure, but still not horrible - my experience with rebuilt starters, albeit no experience with ones for this car, is about 1 in 10 or so fail within a year or two, as opposed to 1 in 50 on new ones

we may be stuck with rebuilt units - if that is the case, i'll probably switch to a tilton

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[Cloud9...68]

Does Tilton make one that will fit our cars?

Even if we have to stay with rebuilt units, that isn't the end of the world. I guess the odds are that lightning won't strike twice, so hopefully my next one will last a lot longer than the year-and-a-half that this one did. It's nice they're so easy to replace.

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[flash]

i don't know if tilton does or not, but that is easy enough to resolve - i've adapted starters before

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[Cloud9...68]

How soon before we see this adapter available at RS Barn? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

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[flash]

lol - it's down on the list right now, but i imagine it moves to the top about 10 minutes after my starter gives out

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[jeff968]

Is there a DIY thread on 968 starter replacement somewhere?
Thanks

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[Cloud9...68]

No, but it's actually one of the easiest things to do in this car:

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. Don't skip this step (ask me how I know)!
2. Jack up the car and secure it on jack stands
3. Crawl under and remove the two 17 mm bolts holding the starter in place, on the left half of the bell housing. One of the bolts also serves to connect one of the power cables.
4. Yank out starter. The cables going to it are pretty stout, but even so, I like to place the starter on a box or some solid object once I've removed the bolts holding it to the bell housing, because I don't like to have the heavy starter hanging by the power cables.
5. Remove the nut securing the other cable (the positive, I believe) to the starter.

Replacement is the reverse of removal.

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[jeff968]

Thank you Cloud, my starter is starting to make a noise.

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