5 Liter Eater

I believe the loose lug on it is causing my lower-than-expected voltage. I can't find anyone who for sure has one that will fit. I can remove the starter and take it to a starter/alternator repair shop but I'd like to have the part in hand to R&R it in short order. Advance Auto seems to have the closest thing but I'm not sure it's the exact part.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...C_A%7CGRP2020A_____

Sparo2

Have u tried calling NAPA? If they don't have it, try to find out what company makes the solenoid and who distributes them. Or unless ur willing to get another one at a salvage yard.

glenB

The factory part has three bolts that come in from the backside to secure the solenoid to the starter motor housing

Replacement starter is $100

5 Liter Eater

Three bolts eh. Not like this then? http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...63C_A|GRP2020A_____

I found these guys in another thread RE: HO alternators. Seems like they would be able to do it.

http://www.db-starter-alternator.com...-60-liter.aspx

I'll probably just end up yanking it and taking it to a starter shop.

HOXXOH

The starter looks like the one pictured from DB Electrical, but it's hard to tell who makes it.

O'Reillys has a re-manufactured starter for about $90. It comes from Ozark Automotive Detroit, 8080 Haggarty Rd. Belleville, MI, who could possibly be the OEM supplier.

My best GM price was about $440. Retail was $530 or so.

I overtightened the battery cable nut and broke the bakelite housing. No one seems to sell just the solenoid, so I bought the whole starter.

glenB

I just went to the NAPA Prolink and they don't even list a starter so my link to AZ could be wrong, AA didn't list a starter nor did Rock Auto.

The AC Delco # is 323-1625 and the OEM is 89017664

The AZ listing is wrong. I don't think you're going to find a solenoid separate except at a starter shop.

Did you pull the battery cable and try tightening the nut against the base?

Or is it the loose nut behind the wheel ?

5 Liter Eater

I had previously tightened the nut against the base which resolved my service charging system errors some time ago. When I did I heard some cracking. I have started to see the voltage drop down into the 12's at idle again. I haven'y checked it again but I want to replace the solenoid before I look at replacing the alternator....But it could be the wheel nut too.

Seems a shame to replace the whole starter.

dennis50nj

at least you can get the whole starter from Gene Culley for less then $300

5 Liter Eater

Well I forced my own hand today. I was under the car re-doing my fan wires and installing a new controller and decided to put some dielectric grease on the starter lug. When I was tightening it back up it cracked right out of the housing. No one has a starter locally, save the dealer. So since I'm looking at down time I'll either take the starter to a local starter/alternator shop or get a new starter AND HO alternator from DB Electrical for less than the price of a dealer starter.

glenB

sounds like my luck

carlrx7

i say you relocate the battery to the trunk and run 0 gauge straight to the alternator, then to the starter.

-Carl

5 Liter Eater

Meh, not feeling it. Just want to be able to start the car and have it see a consistent 14V.

HOXXOH

Oh! Bad news there. I thought my earlier post would have warned you.

Now there are two of us with good starters and bad (broken) solenoid housings.

If you have a problem getting a starter from DB, the pn for the one I posted is 03-3811. I also got an alternator for under $200, just in case you need that info too.

5 Liter Eater

I know I can get an alternator at Autozone for ~$200ish. Thanks for the part # on the starter. When I called O'Reilly's they told me what everyone else told me, "dont have it, cant get it. Dealer part". I can't believe this thing is so rare.

5 Liter Eater

If the pictures of that O'Reilly starter are accurate then that won't fit. Mine mounts via holes from the bottom and the wire that activates the starter has a special connector.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...eyword=03-3811#

5 Liter Eater

Here's what mine looks like. Shows the busted stud.

HOXXOH

That O'Reilly pic must be generic. My starter looks just like yours. Both the box and my receipt have the same 03-3811 part number. The box has a UPS label with the MI address. The O'Reilly cost was $86.99 plus tax and a $10 core. I kept my core in case the starter motor dies, so I have a quick fix.

My solenoid stud broke in the same place as yours. The torque spec is only 89 inch pounds (7.4 ft/lb), so you can see how easy it is to over-tighten.

The store manager here had to make a couple of calls to get this, so you need to let the manager on your end know it really is available and he just needs to get off his butt and on the phone instead of just the computer.

I've called O'Reilly direct to corporate about other things (sponsorship, advertising, etc) and they are responsive, if you have to go that direction.

You might try calling info for the MI supplier's phone number. Belleville is a Detroit suburb with area code 734.

Hope this helps.

5 Liter Eater

Thanks HOX. I ended up going the DB Electical route. <$75 shipped. They were not able to help with an HO alternator and wanted about the same price Autozone does for the stock 145A alternator (~$230) so I didn't jump on that.

Thanks for the torque specs as well. I have been overtorque'ing the nut for sure but I had to in order to get the stud tight. I think I may try putting a nut on both sides of the wires so that if the stud loosens again it doens't hamper charging.

glenB

Lots of starters come with a nut flush against the solenoid, has yours been removed before?

The nut usually is half the thickness of the nut holding the cable on.

5 Liter Eater

Mine didn't have any nut behind the cables. Just that washer you can see in the pic. No idea whether it had been removed before.