Anyone ever changed a starter in a 94 ford taurus? I'm wondering because my friends starter went bad and if it's easy I'll do it for her but if its gonna take a long time I'll let her take it to a shop.

Heres what happened. She had been having trouble starting it like it was a dead battery. It would just roll over slow but eventually fire. Well today she went to start it and it didnt do anything when you tried to start it. So i got down and banged on the starter and a few tries it fired right up. Now since then we have fired it up 3 times with no problems but Im still afraid it is bad and will leave her stranded somewhere.

If I wasnt so busy with finals and everything I would change it no problem but if its gonna take a few hours I might have to think about it. It looks pretty easy to me, like it may take an hour at the most but what do you guys think? Thanks

 

If it's a 3.0 V6 the starter is in the front of the block and easy to get to, best if the car is on a lift, If the car can't be started it's a flat on your back and in your face pain in the neck literally. Nat

 

If it's the 3.8, my mom has the same car and it's easy to get to as well. Right up front.

 

So do you guys think this is the right thing to do? Do you think it's the alternator that went bad? Thats what im thinking. None of the wires connected to it were loose and it did work after banging on it. So should I change it or let it go if its starting now?

 

Yeah $$$$ is $$$$ if you can see without bifocals it should b worthwhile but not a walk in the park. Good luck. Nat
PS:Alternators seem more reliable than starters on mine, but easy to check output voltage.

 

why did i type alternator? I'm an idiot. I meant starter!!!! sorry I bagned on the starter and it worked. WOW that was one of those momments. Sorry about the confusion

 

Before changing it I would check the terminals, put a wrench on them and tighten them a little. Could not be making contact.

 

Is there anyway to test an starter other than on the car?

 

Take it to a rebuider, they will put it on a test stand to check it. At that point I would just put in a rebuilt.

 

Yeah me too if it has to come off, another goes back in it's place is my rule of thumb for starters. You'll want to trade in the old starter to save the core charge cost, I’m betting when the starter is rebuilt, they’ll find the contacts of the commutator pitted and/or separated from the armature. A good quality rebuilt starter lasts as long as a new one in my opinion. Nat

 

Ferd had a problem with the wiring on the starters back then. The small wire from the solenoid would lose contact and if you wiggle it or hammer on the starter (which can break the magnets so be careful) it would start. Make sure before you spend the bucks on a starter. Might be a 2 dollar connector. Both engines are a breeze to change the starters. 5 mins on a lift, 20 on the ground. Done many.

 

Just did one in a '93 3.0 a month or two ago, '94 should be identical.

Not too bad, no special tools needed - maybe 30 minutes if you really have your act together, 60 if you take your time. It's pretty messy on the 3.0's as the oiil filter is directly above the starter - so there is likely years worth of grime over that area. My original lasted about 165K miles. When mine died it was out of the blue - no intermittent issues leading up to it.

I've never been under the hood of the 3.8, can't help in that case.