I am fairly sure my starter is about to go. Intermittent starts in the morning with one click. I can get it to start eventually by turning the key several times and putting in/out of drive.

Battery connections recently cleaned and tightened.

Can you just replace the starter solenoid or do you have to replace the whole starter?

I am thinking you have a problem with the neutral park switch maybe some one with the same experience as you will chime in .

ireland, I just went through the same issue. Turn the key and no crank. All i could do is hold the key steady in the crank position and wait. Eventually it would start to crank.

Batteries tested good, cables clean and tight. Knew it must have been the solenoid. I removed the starter by myself with a bit of grunt work. At first I thought that i would just replace the solenoid. My dad suggested since i went through the trouble of getting it out, might as well drop a whole new starter since it is 11 years old. Installed that a week or 2 ago and haven't looked back. Turns over so quick now it surprises me.

Update: Seems to be weather related. No problems now that it's warm in virginia for this week. I still think it is the starter but not sure how to diagnose since the problem is intermittent. At 167k miles maybe it's just time to replace it.

Three areas of concern - starter, Neutral switch, and ignition switch.

At 186kmi, you're right - time for a replacement starter.

Any use these folks before?
Seems too good to be true but no negative feedback on e-bay.
http://stores.ebay.com/DB-Electrical-Starters-Alternators.
New starter for $95?

If it clicks down at the starter then you can rule out the switch.

My original starter would not engage at -10F but you could hear it spinning. Spinning it over a for 5 seconds and waiting for 5 minutes would work everytime.
It does not sound like your problem.

The replacement starter I got had a dead spot in it. Just clicking like yours until it starts. Holding it on start would also probably work but I did not like doing that.


The new starter I have on now is flawless.

You will be surpised how much the solenoid is for that starter. Discount places I tried did not sell the solenoid and buying one was more than I could get the complete starter for.



While it could still be cables, connections it sounds like you have already ruled that out.

Any use these folks before?
Seems too good to be true but no negative feedback on e-bay.
http://stores.ebay.com/DB-Electrical-Starters-Alternators.
New starter for $95?

Just bumping this up again to see if anyone saw it the second time.

Thanks.

One thing to try. Next time it does that, hold the key in the start position, then wiggle the shifter. If it reacts then its more than likely the neutral safety switch. Also try holding the key while moving the shifter. Reaction to the means the same thing.

I'd always recommend buying an electrical part from a local parts place. That way... 1. you can see it and make sure its correct. 2. If there is a problem, you go down the road, not send it to someone, and have no ride. 3. I tend to find local places give a better warranty.

Hard starting again this morning. Looks like I will be replacing the starter tonight. About how long does it take to replace a starter in one of these?
Thanks.

It takes me less than an hour....but I have had lots of practice :rolleyes:

I'd always recommend buying an electrical part from a local parts place. That way... 1. you can see it and make sure its correct. 2. If there is a problem, you go down the road, not send it to someone, and have no ride. 3. I tend to find local places give a better warranty.
^agreed
I recently got a gear reduction starter from a local auto electric shop for $120. with that comes a 2 year warranty it is nice to know you don't have to jump threw hoops to get warranty work done.

i have never bought anything from him. i have been on ebay and bought alot of stuff. one thing to look at is the feed back and his is downright impeccable considering 7459 positives, 9 neutrals, and only 2 negatives over the past 12 months. that's good. i'd buy from him if i needed to. one thing about ebay is you can always ask one of the previous buyers from his feed back about sales, service. a case in point is "sail outboard motors" i emailed 3 of the recent people who bought an outboard from them and although they left positive feed back, it was done before they realized or found out that the chinese outboard motor company known as sail sells garbage motors. my advice don't buy sail. i was going to and chose not to after the buyers replies. Ed

had the same problem with my 97 , it's deffinittly the starter. it's no harder to pull than a smaa block starter just a little heaver

Most of the time a starter begins a intermitent pattern it's just the brush's. Pretty cheap all you have to do is pull of the back of the starter and replace the brush's. If you have time , and a parts shop close, give it a try.

Bit the bullet and changed it last night since this is my daily driver. Bought a starter at the auto parts store. The hallogen light kept my head and hands warm. The hardest part was the little nut on the top.

Starts great now. Thanks for all the advice.

i should have told you that you can reach the nuts on top of the starter through the wheel well. just pull the mud flap back and there they are. i guess it's too late now though sorry