Starter issues

[ophidia]

I've done some searching but haven't found a thread with my exact issue, so here goes.

I've a 1999 Mountaineer 4x4 4.0L SOHC w/ 132000 miles on it (my wife's ride). Tuesday I replaced the plugs, then yesterday I replaced the rear wheel seals and cleaned the throttle body and IAC. It runs very nicely now.

Unfortunately, it started having an issue with the starter today. Probably 75% of the time, the starter just freewheels. ZZZZZZZZZZZ!! It doesn't make the god awful ZZZZZZT!!! noise like when the ring gear is missing teeth, just spins and make a little rattling click every so often. When it actually engages it starts the vehicle just fine. I tried to take the starter out to have it tested, but there's no way I can get that mfkr out of there. I can't even get to the top bolt with my big old hamhands. Grrr.

Anyway, I went to Advance to get a new ring connector for the 2 gauge grounding strap on the bottom bolt (broke the old one... whoops) and they suggested the solenoid could be bad. Duh. Anyway, they brought out a "solenoid" that was actually a fender mount solenoid relay. OK, fine. I bought it just so I would have it in case I needed it.

My questions are:

1. Could a failing "solenoid relay" cause the symptoms I'm describing?
2. Where the hell is it??? The Autozone repair info makes it sound like it's in/near the PDC by the bettery, but I can't find it. I also haven't been able to find my Haynes manual since I moved a few months ago. I haven't really used it for this vehicle-- haven't had any problems with it (which is good, because my personal vehicle is a 99 Dodge Ram, so I'm fixing that constantly).

Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I've been really lucky and never had any starter issues with the other 10-12 vehicles I've owned over the years. This is the first one.

Thanks!

 

[marragtop]

I don't think the fender solenoid is your problem. To find it, follow the positive cable off the battery. I think you need to remove the starter and bench test it. The top bolt is accessible from underneath. You just need to get the correct socket setup. Is is a pita, but it will come out.

 

[ophidia]

I got it. I had to drop the front of the drive shaft from the front diff, and use one of those ratchets with 2 right angle joints to get it. I'm going to run into Advance in the morning to have them test it out.

Hopefully the starter is just bad so I can swap it out and be done with it.

Fun times. I finally got everything fixed on my Ram (theoretically) so I think the Mountaineer just wanted some love too.

 

[Lacky01]

just so you know, the fender mounted solenoid is only for the first Gens!!! the second Gen and on are a combined solenoid/starter. return the fender mounted one and get your money back. they sold you the wrong part.

 

[ophidia]

Returned solenoid, replaced starter. Problem solved! All I needed to do to get to the bolt was drop the front end of the drive shaft (from the front diff). I just had to run to the store to pick up a t-30 3/8" drive Torx bit to take care of that.

Thanks guys.