okay, so my starter has been acting up for a while. other the the very occasional crunch when i try to start it, a couple of times in the past 2 weeks it has started and not stopped starting, even when i turn off the ignition. to turn it off, i have to disconnect the negative terminal. however, today it was different. i started my engine, and heard the starter rotating, but the engine rpms did not move and my boost gauge registered no vacuum, and it never started. then, again the starter got stuck "on" and wouldnt' shut up. i pulled the plug, reconnected it, and then the starter wouldn't even turn on.



luckily, i got some guys at work to push-start me, and i got going (i love standards). i came home, turned it off, and tried to start it. nothing the first 3 trys, sounded like it was trying to move, and finally it did and started.



so here's the question: what should i replace, the starter motor or the solenoid? autozone?

 

sounds like the teeth on the starter are stripped where it mates to the flywheel. You'll have to replace that, but also also need to trace your electrical problem and figure out why it keeps cranking or else it will just happen again.

 

found some stuff in the FSM, lists my problem exactly: "starter turns continuously (does not stop)" and this is due to problems with the magnetic switch/solenoid.



awesome, should i replace the starter while i'm down there, or would that be a waste of money?

 

come on, i need some replies soon, i'm buying this crap and replacing it on friday, and i HATE wasting money and dont want to buy both if i dont need to

 

if it spins and isnt catching the flywheel then you need a new starter. Apparently you'll need a new solenoid too, make sure to check all the connections down there cuz its an area that is very prone to corrosion.

 

Are the starter and sloenoid not in the same housing on the Seven???



Usually, they are part of the same thing. Either go to your favorite local auto shop and get a replacement, or, do something like

this

Ya, it's for a Toy truck, but the design should be the same for the seven starters. Basically, you pull it apart, fix the contacts, clean the solenoid, generally refurbish the guts, then throw it back in. The contacts slowly get eaten away from arcing within the housing, and replacing/rebuilding them can often get you another 40-50K miles out of a starter. Some people even grind down a penny for a quick fix contact replacement.



If there is something more wrong with it, then you need a new one. Also check the wiring (although you case sounds like a classic sticking solenoid, no wiring problems).

 

take the whole thing to a rebuilder and get it rebuilt

Total cost about $100.



Check the connections while you are down there.

 

for $100 i can buy a new one from autozone...



i'd rather go new and get another 188K out of it

 

it will not be new, it will be rebuilt, probably by rebuilders in Korea or some

****, which by the way make the most un-reliable cars on the market.



You are not going to get a new starter for $100.



If you go to a local rebuilder who makes his living doing this stuff, he

will do a far better job then those crappy ones in the auto parts stores.

I have taken apart starters and alternators bought from Pep Boys and

what not, they are rebuilt to a bare minimum, a local guy

will rebuild everything.

 

Mine just killed on me, good timing, rx-7 meet is tommorrow..