355 Starter repair

My car developed an odd symptom. Starting while cold was a delayed start. Turn the key to start and the car would not start. Hold the key in start position and after a couple of seconds, the started engaged. Warm....no problems. Instant start. I replaced the solenoid & contacts last spring but it still did it this fall as the weather changed.

So, with the major going on, I brought the starter in to have it checked. He asked what car it came off of and I told him I would tell him that later.

It passed all the bench tests and visual inspection at the rebuild shop. They were about to hand it back to me when the guy decided to pop the motor side open.

One of the four brushes was stuck back in it's housing and there was some corrosion on that contact. The windings were freaking filthy. The starter does not have a drain tube on the motor side like most Denso starters and he said that can cause water to collect.

He smiled & said he would fix it. I left him thinking it would take a week.

He called the next day and said my Ferrari starter was done. Haha

In addition to the clean up work, all four bearings in the starter were replaced. They were absolute rattles.

I have not used it yet, but I have high hopes.... Cost? $90.

My car has 31,000 miles on it and I do drive it more than most. I have been caught in the rain at least once in each of my four years of ownership so that might have caused the water in the starter.

Considering the low cost, it might be worth having the starter looked at during the next major you find yourself involved with.

 

One last observation on the starter I forgot to mention.

Apparently this is a very common starter used on just about every car out there. The only difference is the mounting bracket. And that separates from the starter housing pretty easily.

If you are ever stuck because of the starter, any car repair place should be able to get you on your way....cheap.

The numbers on my starter:
Denso 155166
228000-314
12V
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