- Joined
- Dec 26, 2025
- Messages
- 20
- Points
- 101
- City
- Sandpoint
- State - Country
- ID - USA
- Other
- 97 Outback 5MT
- Vehicle Year
- 91
- Vehicle
- Ford Ranger
- Drive
- 4WD
- Engine
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
Update:
I am now in possession of a used 4.0 manual starter. The solenoid is cracked at one of the terminals so it needs to be replaced, but that's fine since I have the other starter with a good solenoid.
Sadly, we are in for another round of cruddy weather and I didn't think to remove the other starter ahead of time so we will see actually kinda nice out.
Having said that though, I am feeling a little optimistic about this starter. I have made some observations between it and the other starter I have.
The most significant thing is that the gears are different! The reman I got from O'reilly's is on the left and the used one I got is on the right. To my eyes the O'reilly's starter gear clearly is clearly different on the inside end than the used one.
There are also differences in the physical body and casting of the starters, some of which is also visible in the same pictures above.
Most noticeably when looking at them from the bottom (if they were mounted in the vehicle)
O'reilly's on left, used on right:
Also noticed on the older starer the gear can be spun in either direction with something like a flathead, not the same with the used one I just picked up. This actually made me look it up and I learned apparently there's a clutch that can fail. TIL.
So I am hopeful that once I have a little time with some decent not too wet weather I can get the other one out of the truck, compare them side to side, swap the solenoid, install the starter, and then cross my fingers.
I am now in possession of a used 4.0 manual starter. The solenoid is cracked at one of the terminals so it needs to be replaced, but that's fine since I have the other starter with a good solenoid.
Sadly, we are in for another round of cruddy weather and I didn't think to remove the other starter ahead of time so we will see actually kinda nice out.
Having said that though, I am feeling a little optimistic about this starter. I have made some observations between it and the other starter I have.
The most significant thing is that the gears are different! The reman I got from O'reilly's is on the left and the used one I got is on the right. To my eyes the O'reilly's starter gear clearly is clearly different on the inside end than the used one.
There are also differences in the physical body and casting of the starters, some of which is also visible in the same pictures above.
Most noticeably when looking at them from the bottom (if they were mounted in the vehicle)
O'reilly's on left, used on right:
Also noticed on the older starer the gear can be spun in either direction with something like a flathead, not the same with the used one I just picked up. This actually made me look it up and I learned apparently there's a clutch that can fail. TIL.
So I am hopeful that once I have a little time with some decent not too wet weather I can get the other one out of the truck, compare them side to side, swap the solenoid, install the starter, and then cross my fingers.
