Hey guys, my starter just went out. I'd MUCH prefer to rebuild my existing one than to replace it. I made a couple of calls and nobody has a rebuild kit for our starters. Does anybody know if there is one readily available at any auto parts chain? I don't want to order parts online, because I kinda need my truck soon, and I'll buy a new starter if I have to.

 

I was told the same thing by NAPA, and local starter shop- no starter rebuild kit available.

 

never seen a rebuild kit available for them- they make more money selling rebuilt units than parts kits, especially since too many shade tree mechanics really don;t have the knowledge or skills needed to properly rebuild starters and such these days.
I think online is going to be the only place to find a rebuild kit.

 

I called a place in Portland, OR called Auto Battery and Electric. They don't have kits, but they told me they have all the parts and I just need to take it apart and find out what I need and come get 'em.

Thanks for the responses. For anybody else that needs to attempt a similar feat I would look for a place like this in your local area.

 

It's easy. Here's everything you need to do it.
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...r-t141395.html

 

Parts here http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/default.htm

What ever you do don't trade your expensive OEM starter in for a core.
The cheap Chinese auto parts starters rarely last a year, many people don't even get 10k miles out of them.
Who cares if it has a lifetime warranty if you have to crawl under your truck in the snow miles from home to swap out a bad starter.

 

This apparently wasn't OEM. The wires to the brushes are held in place by hot peened rivets! I put it back together and am gonna use it as a core.

What's inferior about the Chinese ones? Could one rebuild one when it goes bad to being as good as a domestic one?

 

I can't tell you any more than they just don't last but imagine larger contacts would help.
My thought is the auto parts starters probably work good enough for a gasser engine but just can't take the heavy load of cranking a high compression diesel.

 

Well I'm taking a chance on the cheap starter. My last one appeared to be and it's been in my truck since I bought it in 2006... who knows how long it had been in prior.

When it dies, I'll plan on rebuilding it to a GOOD spec.

 

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