Starter on '88 Ford Ranger

spivey6690 · Sep 3, 2014

Bought an '88 Ranger XLT 2.9L 4X4 standard transmission recently. I have had three starters crap out and am on number four (fourth in a week). All three of the first starters lost their ability to engage the fly wheel (a lot of whirring). This most recent starter had installation instructions that said that there should be two wires going to the starter, which I'm guessing are + and -. There only seems to be one wire present in the truck going to the solenoid. Should there be a + wire or is the starter grounded already? Any help would be greatly appreciated. For what it's worth, starter four works with one wire. The other three did, too, for a bit.

alwaysFlOoReD · Sep 3, 2014

Starter is grounded thru being bolted to engine. On this starter there is only one wire. That's because the solenoid is on the inner fender rather than on the starter.

There has been a few threads about starters eating the drives. No real answers as yet. I suspect that these rebuilt starters aren't being measured for wear properly and the drives are kicking in too far and the drive shell is contacting the flywheel.

Richard

spivey6690 · Sep 4, 2014

Thanks for the response. Do you think that shimming the starter would resolve the issue? If the drive is kicking in too far, then that seems like it would correct the issue.

adsm08 · Sep 4, 2014

It's also possible the drive isn't kicking out at all.

Verify the malfunction before trying anything.

spivey6690 · Sep 4, 2014

Today I got a good look at the problem. The bendex drive is coming out but it is sitting to the driver side of the fly wheel and missing engagement. I don't know what is out of alignment, but I shimmed the starter with a couple of washers at the 10 o'clock position of the bottom bolt to tilt the bendex down and to the passenger side. I don't anticipate this being a good permanent solution. Any ideas?

alwaysFlOoReD · Sep 4, 2014

I've heard about 10 tooth and nine tooth starter drives, also there is a difference between auto and manual starters. Sorry, not a real answer.

Kelson_w · Nov 5, 2014

I had to change my drive gear to a 10 tooth, i have a 88 2.9 manual. it has been working for the past two years without any problems.

wildbill23c · Nov 6, 2014

This problem is exactly why my bronco 2 went to the scrap yard. I got tired of the starter problems....Last one got so bad it wouldn't start at all only way to start it was by push starting it so it met its fate in the crusher. This problem is so common you would think there would be a proper starter for them by now.

wildbill23c · Nov 6, 2014

alwaysFlOoReD said:
I've heard about 10 tooth and nine tooth starter drives, also there is a difference between auto and manual starters. Sorry, not a real answer.

I kept being told no there isn't a difference between auto/manual starters....but damn it there must be because everyone seems to have the exact same problem once their factory starter in their M/T Ranger or B2 has to be replaced. There probably was a difference at some point but the lazy parts stores thought they were "close enough" that they just carry 1 starter and leave everyone out there pretty pissed off.

coyotefiveoh · Nov 6, 2014

seems like a stupid comment, but did anyone think to check the flywheel and make sure the teeth are ALL good?? IF you have worn/broken teeth, that would easily cause the starter to miss the flywheel....

wildbill23c · Nov 6, 2014

coyotefiveoh said:
seems like a stupid comment, but did anyone think to check the flywheel and make sure the teeth are ALL good?? IF you have worn/broken teeth, that would easily cause the starter to miss the flywheel....

A worn or warped flywheel will cause issues, but what's the cause if that isn't the case?

Andy D · Nov 7, 2014

wabbout elongating the holes on the starter to give you the range to engage the flywheel straight on?

Starter on '88 Ford Ranger

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