Is a Duralast starter from AutoZone decent?
05-19-2003, 01:27 AM
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Racer
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Is a Duralast starter from AutoZone decent?
I should be able to tell right away from the bargain-basement $41.00 price, but I have to wonder about the "Lifetime" warranty.
The starter on my 'teener has developed a "dead spot" which causes and intermittant no-crank situation. As long as I carry around a long screwdriver to jump the solenoid on the off chance that the starter "refuses the office", I'm OK for the time being.
I'm wondering if the AutoZone rebuilt will be OK or if it will result in my making a lifetime's worth of trips back to AutoZone to get a new starter (under warranty) every year.
My other options are to buy another (working, $50.00) old starter from a very reliable guy who has lots of old parts for 914s (though I'm leery of replacing a failed 26 year old part with another 26 year old part), or to splurge and spend $180 on a BOSCH factory rebuilt starter.
Any opinions? Thanks all.
Aaron
The starter on my 'teener has developed a "dead spot" which causes and intermittant no-crank situation. As long as I carry around a long screwdriver to jump the solenoid on the off chance that the starter "refuses the office", I'm OK for the time being.
I'm wondering if the AutoZone rebuilt will be OK or if it will result in my making a lifetime's worth of trips back to AutoZone to get a new starter (under warranty) every year.
My other options are to buy another (working, $50.00) old starter from a very reliable guy who has lots of old parts for 914s (though I'm leery of replacing a failed 26 year old part with another 26 year old part), or to splurge and spend $180 on a BOSCH factory rebuilt starter.
Any opinions? Thanks all.
Aaron
05-19-2003, 07:20 PM
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The starter from autozone should be a bosch unit that has been rebuilt by Duralast (autozone). As long as the price is right and they guarantee that it will fit, it's a great deal. Before you spend $180 on a factory rebuilt starter, spend it on a gear reduction starter from a/c.net or your favorite parts supplier, as it will be the last starter you ever buy.
05-19-2003, 07:38 PM
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Dead spot? Hmm ... sometimes lack of sufficient voltage/current to the solenoid is misdiagnosed as starter "dead spot," especially if you're jumping it with a screwdriver.
You might need to install a helper relay between the key-start lead and solenoid; otherwise the problem might re-manifest itself with the new/rebuilt starter, especially if they (Duralast/AutoZone) often recycle the solenoid during rebuild.
<img src="http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/image_uploads/WavingFlag.gif" alt=" - " />
You might need to install a helper relay between the key-start lead and solenoid; otherwise the problem might re-manifest itself with the new/rebuilt starter, especially if they (Duralast/AutoZone) often recycle the solenoid during rebuild.
<img src="http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/image_uploads/WavingFlag.gif" alt=" - " />
05-19-2003, 10:28 PM
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Racer
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Rouser:
<strong>Dead spot? Hmm ... sometimes lack of sufficient voltage/current to the solenoid is misdiagnosed as starter "dead spot," especially if you're jumping it with a screwdriver.
You might need to install a helper relay between the key-start lead and solenoid; otherwise the problem might re-manifest itself with the new/rebuilt starter, especially if they (Duralast/AutoZone) often recycle the solenoid during rebuild.
<img src="http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/image_uploads/WavingFlag.gif" alt=" - " /></strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">It has been starting fine with the key ever since I jumpered it that one time. It has performed flawlessly since that one hiccough. I'm pretty sure that it's a burnt spot in the armature.
Aaron
<strong>Dead spot? Hmm ... sometimes lack of sufficient voltage/current to the solenoid is misdiagnosed as starter "dead spot," especially if you're jumping it with a screwdriver.
You might need to install a helper relay between the key-start lead and solenoid; otherwise the problem might re-manifest itself with the new/rebuilt starter, especially if they (Duralast/AutoZone) often recycle the solenoid during rebuild.
<img src="http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/image_uploads/WavingFlag.gif" alt=" - " /></strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">It has been starting fine with the key ever since I jumpered it that one time. It has performed flawlessly since that one hiccough. I'm pretty sure that it's a burnt spot in the armature.
Aaron
05-25-2003, 12:14 PM
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Just one more thing. Have you checked the ground at the back? My 914 had a ground strap that had not been re-connected and caused the starter to only work when it wanted too. Totally solved my starter problem when I connected it.
In my opinion Auto Zone sucks. Never have what you need. Person at the counter doesn't know a carburetor from a bumper. And, the parts you get are crap.
Troy
In my opinion Auto Zone sucks. Never have what you need. Person at the counter doesn't know a carburetor from a bumper. And, the parts you get are crap.
Troy
05-27-2003, 01:30 AM
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Trust me:
<strong>Just one more thing. Have you checked the ground at the back? My 914 had a ground strap that had not been re-connected and caused the starter to only work when it wanted too. Totally solved my starter problem when I connected it.
In my opinion Auto Zone sucks. Never have what you need. Person at the counter doesn't know a carburetor from a bumper. And, the parts you get are crap.
Troy</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">It's been working 100% fine ever since that one hiccough. I can't make it duplicate the problem at all. Rainy, dry, hot, cold, all fine before and since. All the connections were tight too.
Thanks a lot for the info guys. I think that what I'm going to do is buy the cheap AutoZone starter and then have my old starter rebuilt by a very good local shop. Then I'll have the rebuilt original starter to swap back in if I need to.
Aaron
<strong>Just one more thing. Have you checked the ground at the back? My 914 had a ground strap that had not been re-connected and caused the starter to only work when it wanted too. Totally solved my starter problem when I connected it.
In my opinion Auto Zone sucks. Never have what you need. Person at the counter doesn't know a carburetor from a bumper. And, the parts you get are crap.
Troy</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">It's been working 100% fine ever since that one hiccough. I can't make it duplicate the problem at all. Rainy, dry, hot, cold, all fine before and since. All the connections were tight too.
Thanks a lot for the info guys. I think that what I'm going to do is buy the cheap AutoZone starter and then have my old starter rebuilt by a very good local shop. Then I'll have the rebuilt original starter to swap back in if I need to.
Aaron
