Posted: 2/17/2010 9:15:53 PM EDT
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I had today off since I put in a 21 hour day on monday, so I decided to replace the starter in my car since it's been siezing up if I drive for any distance and then I have to wait for the car to cool down before I can start it if I turn it off, but anyways. Called around and found one, went and picked it up, went to shop, pulled old starter, put in new starter, started car and it sounded kinda funny but started, turned it off and did some other tinkering with stuff then when I went to start it again it just whirrrrrrrred. Pulled the starter to make sure that I had'nt pinched a wire or a hose between the starter and the trans and it was fine, put starter back on and whirrrrrrrr, took starter out, brought back to auto parts store and got a new one, put it in, started but sounded funny, tried again and whirrrr, then went thru pulling it and tightening the bolts in different orders to see if that changed anything. Finnaly got it to start again and it sounded funny like previously when it had actually started but I said fuckit and drove the car to the auto parts store so they could hear it and see if they thought I had gotten a bad starter. They thought bad starter and that I just had bad luck, looked it up in the computer to make sure it was the right starter and computer showed that it was, so I pulled the starter in their parking lot and they had me go to another store to swap it for another there. Got a ride from fiancee, swapped it out and whirrrrrrrrr again, finnaly got the idea to have them look it up as a different car that I knew would be the same and that one prompted them if it was AWD of FWD, where previously they were'nt being prompted that, new part number for awd, other store has correct starter, pulled starter again, got ride to other store, got starter and put it in and started right up.
Cliffs notes, pulled and put in starter 8+ times because auto parts stores computer showed wrong starter for my car. |
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I twisted wrenches for over 28 years and every time I did't lay starters side by side and compare everything, there would be something different. I used to bench test them before I installed to make sure they would crank and engage. You even have to count teeth. Write down your VIN number, build date, model, trim level, engine size, number of cylinders, transmission style, and sometimes even if it has cruise. Take it to the parts store with you. Rant off, thank you, and good luck.  |
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NEVER let them look up your part without you shoulder surfing... I make sure they check every option for my car...
ALWAYS bring the part in with you to compare it I had a 1984 Mercury Topaz and the TFI module went bad... common problem... mounted directly to distributor and the heat would cause it to deteriorate over time... it died in a parking lot which was luckily about 4 blocks from Pep Boys... went to Pep Boys and their stupid ass computer claimed that i had the old style ignition module... they kept giving it to me... and i was like look its the ford TFI module that they've used up until the mid 90s... they kept telling me i was wrong and refused to sell me the correct part... finally, i walked out of the stupid store... turned my shirt inside out and messed up my hair... walked back in and asked for an ignition module for a 1988 ford tempo... the look on their faces was priceless... but i got the right part... |
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it did'nt seem to be a problem with the actual looking up, when it was looked up as a 92 eagle talon it never asked if it was awd and gave the fwd starter as the only option, looked up as an eclipse GSX it asked if it was awd in their system and showed the correct starter, the wrong starter looked almost identicle only difference was the gear was 3/8 inch longer or so. Probably does'nt help that the car is an early 92 and they changed some things in late 92 also.
T |
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I didn't do it eight times, but....
I went out one morning(I was 16 at the time) and my truck(77 chevy, SB V-8) wouldn't start...didn't even click. I'm in WTF mode since it hasn't given any problems. I call up my uncle and he agrees that the solenoid took a shit and I need to replace it. So, I wrestle the 30 fucking pound starter out, pull the old solenoid, and go to the parts store. $20 for a new solenoid...yay. Come home, put new solenoid on the starter, wrestle 30 fucking pound starter back into position and bolt it all back up. Connect the wires, double check everything...it all looks good. Truck should start now right? Nope, still got fucking nothing. Lights, horn, etc. work, so the battery has power...and all the connections are good. So I call my uncle back and he asks if I'm sure the shifter is fully in neutral  .... I go out, wiggle the shifter a little and it fires right up. 
Cliff notes: I spent half the day fixing shit that wasn't broke and lost some skin and blood along the way. |