[Shotimes] Starter woes

[George Fourchy]

On Sat, 6 Dec 2003 22:32:09 -0600, Mike Kopstain wrote:

>Perhaps neither, but when the solenoid goes out (most common part to fail in
>the starter) it's much easier to replace the fender mounted solenoid, than
>the whole starter motor.

In addition to this, and more important to me (since the hazard is there all the
time, vs. replacing a solenoid once in 15 years), is the fact that all 700 amps of
the battery's current is going to the starter ALL the time, down there where you
can't get to it, and where it goes past all kinds of sharp edges and other hazards,
like exhaust manifolds, road debris, etc.  If a cable gets its insulation rubbed
through, or maybe it might touch the exhaust pipe for a while, look at all the
problems you can have.  I'd MUCH rather have the solenoid up where it is visible,
clean, and free from hazards.  I know the hot cable goes from one side, down across
the center, and up again, but at least there are no connections down there.

Back in the '80s I converted my '68 GTO to a Ford type system for this reason....the
factory setup has the hot battery cable going through a hole in the exhaust
manifold, down to the starter, through a little hole about half again as big as the
cable.  That's looking for trouble, in my opinion.

I'd convert every car I had, that I'd expect to have to work on, to this
system.....I don't like starter mounted solenoids.  (Don't expect to have to work on
the Lexi)

By the way....I get lifetime NAPA starters for $70 exchange.  I get them (and
alternators) rebuilt locally for $50.

George