starter issues

[kevsev7k]

Rockauto.com shows the starter for my 93 Impreza L wagon to be a Remy 16889. Ebay also suggests this part. Can anyone tell me if it is the right one? My car is manual and I have noticed some starters specify whether they are for an automatic. Are the starters interchangable? My starter is just beginning to go, I am afraid I only have another week or so before it goes completely. Thanks!

[J A Blazer]

Have you tried rebuilding your present one first? If yours is like the Denso in later years, its a very simple and inexpensive fix to replace the contacts.

[Olnick]

Can you explain how your starter "is beginning to go?"  If the solenoid clicks but the starter won't turn over, then new contacts will fix it as J A Blazer said.  Inexpensive and not a very difficult job at all.

[kevsev7k]

The clicking is only every so often. I deliver pizza for a living as to why I thought it would be the starter itself. (The constant on/off) My buddy owns his own shop and whenever I need tools I dont have or questions, he allows me access. We cleaned and professionally sanded all the connections, battery and ground and this has not helped. That is the reason we both think it is the starter itself. Also, due to my job I cannot take the starter off, rebuild it and have it replaced by the time I need the car again. Does this help explain?

[Fairtax4me]

The starter issues with these are not generally because of the battery cables.

It's the high amperage contacts inside the solenoid that wear and cause the "click" problem.

Only cost about $15 and take 45 minutes to replace. Easy to do one evening after work.

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/denso-starter-contacts

A How-To here:

http://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=9186

 

He says you need to take it apart then go get the contacts, but as far as I've seen you can pretty much order either set (the wide or the short ones) and they'll work. Good thing is if you need the short ones, and you order a wide set you can just cut the long edge off and put them in.

[Cougar]

Since the car is pretty old I suggest you replace the starter even though just the solenoid contacts may be bad at this point in time. More than just the contacts ware down over time and you don't want to do the job again for something else on the starter having trouble. The starters are pretty interchangeable I think. There are differences between models with automatic and manual transmissions I think. 

[1-3-2-4]

The starter issues with these are not generally because of the battery cables.

It's the high amperage contacts inside the solenoid that wear and cause the "click" problem.

Only cost about $15 and take 45 minutes to replace. Easy to do one evening after work.

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/denso-starter-contacts

A How-To here:

http://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=9186

 

He says you need to take it apart then go get the contacts, but as far as I've seen you can pretty much order either set (the wide or the short ones) and they'll work. Good thing is if you need the short ones, and you order a wide set you can just cut the long edge off and put them in.

I was lucky my dealer new and had the parts box.. the contacts I think the both of them (did not get plunger) was like $10 at the most.. I took the starter out as soon as I got home (Hot.. Hot HOT!) and had it done in 20 min.

[johnceggleston]

YES, there is a difference between a manual trans starter ans an auto trans starter.

 

there is a good thread / link for a parts source, contacts and plunger shipped for less than $15.

 

but i would buy a used starter from www.car-part.com (put in your zip and sort by distance)

swap the contacts and install it in your car.

 

another solution is to add a relay to the circuit.

this will send power from the battery to the starter solenoid through a MUCH shorter, cleaner, newer circuit.

i did this on the 97obw and drove it for 40k miles until i sold it.

it work great, never failed again.

 

both of these solutions are documented,

do a search for ''starterfix''.

 

contacts info:

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/need-help-car-wont-start-196939.html?p=4177757#post4177757

Edited September 30, 2013 by johnceggleston

[kevsev7k]

I will try car-part.com, thanks. And being that its an older Suby and the starter hasnt been replaced in the last 185k I think a new starter is in order. Also because of the job I have of constantly starting. Thanks for all your help!

[1-3-2-4]

I've got 257K miles on my original starter on my outback.

Edited September 30, 2013 by 1-3-2-4

[kevsev7k]

I pruchased my Suby from a gentleman in Kentucky with 100k already on it. So not being sure whether he ever changed it out, I have 285k now. Thanks for posting.

[kevsev7k]

I pruchased my Suby from a gentleman in Kentucky with 100k already on it. So not being sure whether he ever changed it out, I have 285k now. Thanks for posting.