97 4.0 starter

[97RangerXLT]

how difficult of a job is removing the starter on the 4.0?

Truck in question has an automatic and 4wd. auto transfer case as well...

after getting under it, I can see that the driveshaft to the d35 is going to make things interesting...

For those who want the longer version of why the heck I think the starter is the culprit...

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14198&highlight=starter+replacement

I found this using the search feature, and this pretty much describes my issues. I notice that the truck will not start, I just get the "klunk" when I turn the key when it is cold out. (usually 10 or 15 degrees below freezing) when it is warm,(above 25 degrees) it starts fine.

When it first did this, I figured it was the battery, tested it and it is fine, and I have no dimming of lights when I turn them on, good power from it. So I checked the solenoid/relay on the fender. l put a wrench on the topmost bolt to loosen it, and the post twisted off with hardly any effort. I noticed that the post looked like it was cracked more than halfway through. So I figured I have my culprit and replaced it. Nope, next day, no start. ok, I am getting a bit irritated...Got under it and unhooked the terminals from the starter (kind of a pain because of the driveshaft..) cleaned them really good. looked at them, and they look fine. I also cleaned the battery terminals too at this point, hooked them up again. everything is good, the truck runs for a 2 days and then click again.

So, I figure it is running fine in the above 25 degree weather, I have pretty much checked everything from the battery to the starter. So now I get the wife involved, (that can be scary in itself) have her turn the key while I am under the truck. (I let her know that hte life insurance policy is not paid yet just in case she 'accidently starts it and runs me over' ) she turn the key and I hear the actual solenoid that is on the starter "thunk" but it does not spin. So I have her do it and beat the snot out of the starter with a screwdriver. no luck. I let her go back to doing what she was doing and go get an extension cord and her hair dryer. get back under the truck and heat the starter up with the hair dryer for about 3 minutes. get in the truck, and it starts right up.

The rebuild that InsaneJughead pointed out in the above post seems plausible for what I am experiencing. I do not know if the starter he rebuilt is the same style or type of starter that is on my 4.0, but it looks about the same from what I could see of it under the truck.

So there is the longwinded version...

 

[AaronC47]

Starter Issues

I can almost bet I know what your problem is - I spent 3 years in Vegas and one night when I was so broke I couldnt pay attention, I went to get a drink at an am/pm and went to leave again and like you nothing, this had done it off and on the previous days but it would start after a bit, This is what you probably need to do, with the starter out on the bench, remove the 2 screws holding the back plate (right below where the ground wire runs inside the housing) open the starter up, pull the guts out and disassemble as much of it as you can, Inside that housing will be foad grime, grit, oil and crap, when its cold that build up will be keeping the contacts from hitting the armature as they need to, Then when your driving and its warm or hot in the starter seems to gravitate down away, until its cold again and the crap gets stuck and built up again, And while you have starter open call around to an automotive electrical place and get new brushes and replace them while you have it open, you will save yourself about $115 bucks just doing that alone, instead of buying new starter if that one goes out, After I tore mine apart and cleaned it in Vegas I had no problems with it for another 2 years almost, and so I just replaced the brushes again,, And same goes for Alternator,, Anyway I hope that helps if your still looking for an answer

Aaron

 

[snake]

Looks like you narrowed it down to the starter for sure. Replace or clean as the above poster recommended... That hair dryer trick was pretty sharp-

 

[97RangerXLT]

Alrighty...

Where are you guys getting your brushes from? I called Autozone, Pep Boys, and Oreilly's and none of them carry the rebuild kit or brushes. Just the starter for $149

Is there a company that will sell me what I need to rebuild it?

AJ