Tunking Starter

[eric147]

Now what!?

Lately, My 97 3.2 Rodeo has been hard to start: Turn the key, and I get a clunking sound, no starter engagement. After a few tries, it would engage and start.

It seems to be worse, the colder it gets. This morning, 16 degrees, it took about 40 turns of the ignition key before it engaged and started.

I replaced the battery last week.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Eric

[amigo-2k]

The starter or a bad ground.

[eric147]

What about this one:
Yesterday morning, my wife got the kids off to school, walked past the Rodeo, and noticed the radio was on. No keys in the ignition, and it wasn't on an hour earlier when I fished my travel mug out, but at 8:00, it was blasting out the Bob and Tom Show!



Last night, I push-started it to go to Menards to get some more building supplies, and when I turned it off and pulled the key, the radio stayed on.

It's still sitting and awaiting proper diagnosis, as my time is split between building my house, boiling down maple sap, and trying to fit in brewing a few batches of beer, my true passion.

Is my radio possessed, or have Bob and Tom siezed control?

Could my radio's behavior have anything to do with the starting problems I'm having?

As my favorite conspiracy theorist is want to say, "There's no such thing as a coincidence."

[rodeo02]

Wow that's odd with the radio! Is it the factory head unit or aftermarket? As far as the starter goes, it's likely just worn brushes. These OEM starters are pretty hardy. A few bucks at a electric motor shop should take care of it. If you need/want to replace it, do yourself a favor & get an OEM replacement. Rebuilt / remanufactured units are way more trouble than what you save by buying them.
G/luck
Joel

[eric147]

The radio and everything is all OEM.

It doesn't seem like it would be a broken or worn tooth on the starter: If I rock it in gear, it should make contact, and start. And when it does try to start, but I back off the ignition switch before it starts, it should start up on the next try.

How hard to pull the starter? I can't find my manual.

[heritage72]

To replace the starter you will need to get around the exhaust pipe. I did mine a few months ago and ended up taking the advice of another poster and took apart the new starter to get it past in two pieces rather than remove the exhaust.

If you are careful taking apart the new starter you should be fine and it's not a bad job! maybe 2 hrs with out a lift.

[eric147]

I wonder if I would have thought of taking the starter apart?

Thanks for the tip!

Now what about that ignition switch? Could it be the problem, and how hard are they to swap?

[eric147]

Can the brushes be replaced in situ?

I suppose I could just crawl under and look for myself......