Starter problem

Starter post. Pretty sure it's going. Seems like it gets more sluggish every time I start it. Some said could be ground related? Any particular grounds? Also anyone have a link to the smaller new style starter?

 

Not sure about the newer smaller style starter... sluggish start may be due to the battery starting to die.. Average starter lasts around 200-210k miles on average... there are some that go early some go much later.

 

I have 265k miles on my 4.7L that is on it’s original starter wondering when it will fail is definitely on the my mind

 

Battery was replaced a couple months ago. Initially thought it was issue.

 

That's why I'm trying to get ahead of it. It won't die in a convenient spot.

 

Maybe it's about time.. yours will be easier, can be rebuilt or contacts cleaned tested and reinstalled

 

Yeah. I think I'm just gonna buy new oem. Buy once cry once.

 

That's what I go by. Swipe once cry once.

 

My 2010 has 234k miles and it had the original starter up until a few months ago.
Strictly on a preventative basis I replaced my starter with a new OEM.
I just wanted the peace of mind. I go to some pretty out of the way places.

 

Starter dead today. Looks like I'll be installing new tmr. If anyone has any tips or special tools that helped the job I'm all ears.

 

There are threads on here explaining the process. You’ll have to decide if you’re going with the jack the motor up method or the pull the exhaust manifold method. Consensus seems to be jacking up the motor is the way to go.

If you decide not to unbolt the engine you’ll need an exhaust manifold gasket.

 

Extensions, unbolt coolant line, 1 bolt from the top of the engine, 1 bolt by the starter. Do the top bolt of the starter last as your ratchet will get pinned there... undo the harness towards the front of the engine passenger side so the starter can fall out the front... Didn't need to kift the engine nor pull the manifold.. just more work imo

 

I agree. Any tricks for the forward bolt on the heat shield. Looks like it may not go back after reassemble if it's as bad as it looks like it's gonna be.

 

I’ve got sausage fingers and man hands so any shortcuts usually end up being the long way to doing it the right way for me. YMMV.

 

Also have big hands. We will see in the morning.

 

I cut that B, the top bolt, cuz I rounded, so I cut the shield arou d the bolt.

 

Man I bet that was a bitch and a half.

 

That's the 2wd vs 4wd difference right?

 

In his case, it wouldn't matter since that b is inbetween the intake valley on top of the engine. 5.7 that thing is on the passenger side, don't think it would matter for either 2 or 4wd...

 

Ah, gotcha. I didn't see where he had listed his engine. I just assumed.

 

No worries, I did too for a moment...

 

I know that 5.7 4wd of mine I replaced was a mother of a job. I jacked up the engine, couldn't imagine removing the manifold & all those rusty fasteners.

 

On my 5.7 4wd I loosened one engine mount bolt and jacked the passengers side. I may not have needed to but it didn’t take that long to do and gave me more room for my fat fingers. Also took the bolt out for the coolant lines on the top of the engine. Didn’t take the exhaust manifold off.

Did it in the gravel in the middle of winter. I wish I would have changed it in the shop when it first started acting up.

Not the worst job I’ve ever done.

 

Well day one of attempting is in the books. Had to take Manifold off. That old starter longer than the new one. And I couldn't get it to come out in any kind of way I tried. Got new in. Waiting til this evening to pick up new Manifold Gasket. Attempted to turn it over with new starter. Put Manifold on without gasket. But I got the exact same click I got yest when starter was bad. So. Is new starter bad or is something prohibiting the start circuit. The sound sounds like the solenoid on the starter tho. Will have to get wife out to help be sure. Fuses check out. Didn't check relay. But no reason to think it's issue. Next plan of attack is to pull starter back off and bench test it.

 

Damn it Jim, did you jump the relay? I did all kinds of wizardry before I pulled the starter out....

 

I didn't. But the starter has just been weaker and weaker sounding. Usually that's not how a relay will die. And the click yesterday was first no start. It always started. Just sounded like i had 10 volts trying to start it for a second. Then it would rip. I will also test relay. But logically I'd assume new starter is bad. Not sure what else would make most sense. Only thing in my mind is that damn little clip on solenoid. It broke like every one. And maybe it not getting best connection. Will be first thing I check in the morning.

 

What’s the battery voltage? Are we sure this isn’t an alternator problem?

 

Testing the relay is more to rule out a wiring problem as well as the starter. If you jump the starter relay plug and start, you can narrow it down to a wiring problem from the ignition to the relay location, maybe the relay. If it doesn't start, then it would be an issue with the starter, or wiring from the plug point. If you get the same click on the starter end, then you can declare it a bad starter. I had both tested before I installed my starter.. It was cheap insurance, plus O'Reilly's was about 2 blocks away from my house at the time..

 

Battery is about a month old. Bought best one oreillys had. I haven't checked voltage. But I bought battery bc the starter sounded like ass with old battery. Truck had this issue when I bought it. But it had been sitting up. So I assumed battery was trash. Was also walmart battery. All signs pointed to that.

 

This is a great point. And easy to try. I just assumed starter initially. Has about 175k on the truck. Seems close enough to when others had issues and the sluggish starts just screamed starter going bad.