Directconnection
01-07-2008, 11:54 PM
My starter in my '96 Intrepid has troubles engaging only when it gets down to freezing temps, and worse the colder it gets.
I replaced the original starter because of this issue last feb. I thought the solenoid was going as it would just "whir" a few key cycles and then one day it took like 30 and that's when I swapped it out. Whenever the car had any sort of temp to it, the starter would engage flawlessly. Stone cold and 30 out...took a few tries.
This oct. it acted up again. Frikkin' rebuilt starters. Pull it out in my driveway in 20 degree temps at night and good to go. Then, 3 weeks later, it's doing it again! WTF! Starter shim of sorts is in and everything is correct. Swapped it out for ANOTHER and this time noticed what the issue was.
I had a freeze plug weeping about 3 years ago. I put in the stop leak crap which i didn't want to do as I heard and seen what it does to heater cores, etc. But, I wasn't going to pull an engine to get to a freeze plug. All was fine and no issues until now. I noticed that the rear freeze plug (I can't see it but know there must be one there) is slowly weeping not coolant, but the stop leak crap that looks just like that permatex aviation sealer or indian head sealer. It is making an ever so small trail in the bellhousing and running all the way down to the opening where the starter gear is at. I am pretty sure that this stuff is getting on the starter gear/shaft and when it's cold out, it acts like glue and prevents the solenoid to kick the gear out.
Weird one, huh?
Now, tomorrow I will have to pull it out and use brake cleaner on the gear/shaft, clean the bellhousing and try my hand at making a levy/dam/deflector made out of silicone.
Any idea on what I should do to the shaft that the gear sins on of the starter? I don't want to brake clean it clean and that's it. I assume it does need a lube of sorts. Light oil? Anyone have any experience rebuilding starters?
I replaced the original starter because of this issue last feb. I thought the solenoid was going as it would just "whir" a few key cycles and then one day it took like 30 and that's when I swapped it out. Whenever the car had any sort of temp to it, the starter would engage flawlessly. Stone cold and 30 out...took a few tries.
This oct. it acted up again. Frikkin' rebuilt starters. Pull it out in my driveway in 20 degree temps at night and good to go. Then, 3 weeks later, it's doing it again! WTF! Starter shim of sorts is in and everything is correct. Swapped it out for ANOTHER and this time noticed what the issue was.
I had a freeze plug weeping about 3 years ago. I put in the stop leak crap which i didn't want to do as I heard and seen what it does to heater cores, etc. But, I wasn't going to pull an engine to get to a freeze plug. All was fine and no issues until now. I noticed that the rear freeze plug (I can't see it but know there must be one there) is slowly weeping not coolant, but the stop leak crap that looks just like that permatex aviation sealer or indian head sealer. It is making an ever so small trail in the bellhousing and running all the way down to the opening where the starter gear is at. I am pretty sure that this stuff is getting on the starter gear/shaft and when it's cold out, it acts like glue and prevents the solenoid to kick the gear out.
Weird one, huh?
Now, tomorrow I will have to pull it out and use brake cleaner on the gear/shaft, clean the bellhousing and try my hand at making a levy/dam/deflector made out of silicone.
Any idea on what I should do to the shaft that the gear sins on of the starter? I don't want to brake clean it clean and that's it. I assume it does need a lube of sorts. Light oil? Anyone have any experience rebuilding starters?