Starter reconditioning?

[zero_cool09]

Was wondering if anyone has themselves or seen anyone do a starter rebuild or cleaning on the S-series?

Did a couple google searches and didn't find anything specific to the Saturn starter motors.

[toggenburg]

Nope.
Considering you can get a brand new one for $39.80 delivered from dbelectrical.com, why bother.

[alordofchaos]

PDF attached, plus see:

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=143956

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...=1#post1621952

I'm just joshing you below, please don't mind me - no offense intended, I just love a good meme

[zero_cool09]

Originally Posted by alordofchaos

PDF attached, plus see:

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=143956

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...=1#post1621952

I'm just joshing you below, please don't mind me - no offense intended, I just love a good meme

Haha I enjoy the meme, thanks for the links!

[billr]

I have taken a couple apart for "post mortem". They wouldn't be easy to repair or rebuild, too many soldered/staked/swaged joints. And, where to get parts (like the drive clutch/gear assy) for a reasonable price? How many of us DIYers have a growler handy to test an armature? Got a magnemometer (or whatever it is called) to test the field magnets. As said above, not worth all that bother, even for us "frugal" folks.

[fdryer]

zero_cool09, I can only offer my personal experiences, unrelated to S-series starter rebuilding yet still related to starter rebuilding in general. Let's face it, for around $40, a new starter is hard to beat but if your intention is to learn while discovering the intricacies of a typical starter for engines, there are many youtube videos available as well as links already given to help you. As usual, if you plan on rebuilding yours, have an out - plan on a replacement starter if your rebuilding fails (worse case scenario).

My experience is only one example of thinking outside the box. A starter that was rebuilt with some time needed without parts readily available - a whole new part made from scratch. The vehicle was going to be sold so I decided to try repairs. The large electrical contact wore out in the starter solenoid assembly and this usually means spending time finding a source of starter solenoids, paying a rebuilder to do it or just buy another starter ($150). Some imagination and finding an equivalent electrical contact material from industrial fuse boxes at work allowed me to create a replacement contact, custom made with plain hand tools. I can state without doubt that if the vehicle was kept, this starter (with 140k miles) was capable of another 140k miles. Nothing was worn (brushes weren't half worn), just the electrical contacts in the starter solenoid. This isn't a normal diy repair and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone except for those that like a challenge and use imagination. No rocket science involved. The starter was repaired without having to buy a replacement.

[Waiex191]

I saved my last starter to attempt a fix. I am on my third aftermarket starter. When they fail they still work fine - just intermittently. Seems like something is hanging up or not making good contact. I wouldn't do it to save $40. I'd do it so it would last longer.

[fdryer]

If you are curious and not afraid to get hands dirty, disassembling a starter isn't difficult and the only way to determine what failed (bearings, brushes, commutator, springs, solenoid coil, electrical contacts, wiring, etc). It helps to know a few things too.........

[alordofchaos]

Originally Posted by fdryer

but if your intention is to learn while discovering the intricacies of a typical starter for engines,

This is exactly why I kept all those links and my old starter, after putting in a dbelectric starter

It's been sitting on the garage floor for over 5 years, but one of these days, when I have time . . .

I actually had a link to a youtube video made by one of the members here that was specific to the Saturn starter rebuild but it seems to have disappeared off YT

[MikeNW]

thanks toggenburg for the info.
I just ordered a starter. For that price, WITH FREE SHIPPING, I'll put it in the trunk tool box. Just in case. (I still have the original 19-year old starter in my 97 SL!)

An aside: I have a Suzuki Burgman scooter. Last year I needed a starter. It's a Denso. Darned if I couldn't find a brush kit for it. Ended up buying a starter locally. It's about as big as a small can of frozen juice and costs several multiples of $39! I guess that not everything is on the internet

[OldNuc]

DB Electrical also has many of those small starters as well. Did you check?

[zero_cool09]

Thanks for all the insight guys, I merely was asking for future reference. My '99 SL1 is at about 210,000 KM and I drive about 5000 a month. Haven't noticed it going yet, but I figure its something I should anticipate.

[Greg1]

Originally Posted by zero_cool09

Thanks for all the insight guys, I merely was asking for future reference. My '99 SL1 is at about 210,000 KM and I drive about 5000 a month. Haven't noticed it going yet, but I figure its something I should anticipate.

My 97 has 320,000 miles on the original starter so you may have a while.

[OldNuc]

Mean time to failure is determined by the number of starter actuations and total run time, not mileage on the car.