Starter motor on a 3.9

[scubaman99]

Hey All

has anyone had to replace their starter motor on a DI with a 3.9 or a RRC with the same motor? My 95 DI starter motor is going out... when you turn the key, you can hear the motor spinning but not engaging. my assumption is that the starter solonoid is going out

questions:

1. does this sound like a correct assesment? i can hear the motor turning but, not cranking the motor... if i keep turning the key eventually it engages and it turns the motor over.

2. has anyone replaced theirs? is it easy??? i've replaced starter motors on a few cars and they have all been pretty straight forward... remove a couple of bolts that hold the motor on and the wires that power it....

3. any suggestions on good sources for replacements???? will rebuilt parts do? is this a part that should definately be a LR part???

thanks

KEN

 

[Robert Godshall]

Sounds like you have a bad starter. Its the usual dificulty for a land rover. Its always good to go with OE. But if you want to upgrade you should go with a mean green reduction starter it wont wear out as fast. go to there web sitewww.mean-green.com for some more info. Its more expensive but I figured I would just throw it out there.

This concludes my current statement
Robertr Godshall

BTW you might be able to squeeze a some more life out of it by smacking it with a hammer if you get into a bind.

 

[Black Mustache]

ahhh yes- the Big Fooking Hammer- used that trick a few times myself. you can also have it rebuilt if you are on a budget... (about 120-150)
as far as the labor, it's just like you described- not hard at all.

 

[Robert Godshall]

Yeah. Whats the popular term oh yes "the optimizer" if you will. I've also used the technique on my 1974 Grand Prix it worked like a charm untill i could buy a new starter. You learn ignore the funny looks people give you in the parking lot.

This Concludes my current statement
Robert Godshall

 

[scubaman99]

so when the starter wont engage, i can simply "bang on it" with a hammer?????

 

[Robert Godshall]

Yes. All you have to do is bang on it with your trusty optimizer and what that will do is free up the fork that engages the gear that will mate with the flywheel. When the starter engages that will only happen if the fork inside the starter pushes the engaging gear.

This concludes my current statement
Robert Godshall

 

[Black Mustache]

yep- smack that broke shit like you mean it a few times.