2.3L ('83-'97) Looking for a part number..

[Jodygoodwin704]

I have a 90 ranger with a 2.3 liter with a starter that went out. I read somewhere on the ranger station that there is a difference between 9 tooth and 10 tooth starter. All I see on O'Reilly's and other websites is a 9 tooth starter for my truck. The 9 tooth starter I have has a bit of wear on the teeth. Could I need a 10 tooth gear on the starter? If so, what part number would that be?

 

[pjtoledo]

my "educated guess" is the difference between manual flywheel and auto flexplate diameters/tooth count.
flywheels are sometimes slightly larger, so a smaller starter is used.

 

[Jodygoodwin704]

Mine is a 5 speed. When I bought this starter I never thought to check the original with the new piece of AutoZone crap I bought.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I can verify later tonight on my spare starter but I'm almost positive the starter gear tooth situation is all on V6 engines as there was a mess of setups in the mid '80's between two different auto transmissions and like 3 different manual transmissions. For a 4 cylinder Ranger there was only one manual transmission and I think the starter is the same for an auto and manual...

 

[Jodygoodwin704]

That's great. At least AutoZone actually got that right. Starter is about one year old. I found a guy that rebuilds starters and alternators in my area.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I'll have to look around a bit tomorrow for the right starter, the one that was on my spare engine pallet must be from the '87 engine I have since it had two starter bolts not 3 like an M5OD would have (I should have specified earlier, before '87/88 there were more manuals on Lima engines too, but after mid '87 they all had an M5OD so only one for your '90).

Oddly enough that other starter has 10 teeth but I have no idea on the alignment since I don't have a spare transmission (it's on the list to have on hand...)

 

[Jodygoodwin704]

Okay. Thank you for the information.