1997 850 GLT

67Amazon · Post by **67Amazon** » 31 Oct 2023, 10:56

Greeting, occasionally the starter on my '97 850, 210,000 mile exhibits a starter spin/no engagement symptom.
After multiple attempts the starter will engage long enough to crank the motor.
This is an intermittent problem, started happening a couple of years ago, then fine for awhile (years) then started happening again the other day.

I'm thinking that it's not practical to try and rebuild the starter with a new solenoid.

Is a reman. Bosch the best option. ?
Are used ones worth the hassle ??

Thanks
Peter

Post by **Chuck W** » 31 Oct 2023, 11:21

You could get by for many years with a good used starter.

The one in one of our cars was pulled from the JY many years ago.

Post by **Clemens** » 31 Oct 2023, 14:45

+ 1 on the good used unit.

Post by **scot850** » 31 Oct 2023, 15:47

The only hassle with a junkyard unit is if you have to pull it yourself. The local Pick and Pull yards around here also offer a fairly cheap 1 year warranty and the other yard I go to has a 90 day warranty. So a used unit is worth considering. The issue these days is the age of the cars is that they are often still on the original. My brother has just swapped his 97 850 starter due to similar issues like you are seeing. He got a really good deal on a recon-Bosch unit and it seems to have fixed the issue. The other issue is recon units, even Bosch are not what they used to be in terms of quality. My brother did mention he got a 2 year warranty with the Bosch unit.

I have a couple of units that look like they have been replacements. That is why I pulled them. They will sit in the stash should I ever need them.

Neil.

67Amazon · Post by **67Amazon** » 30 May 2024, 13:44

Finally replaced the starter with a used one from FB marketplace, which saved me the hassle of finding & removing one from a junkyard. Also, one used parts supplier wanted the old starter as a "core", but I want to keep the old one as I figured I could refurbish it as a spare. The issue turned out to be a sticking solenoid. The used one I picked up also had a stuck solenoid so I needed to fix that before installing it. Installed the "refurbished" used starter and all is well. Removed the solenoid from the old OE started and cleaned/ lubed it so now I have a spare. Note that the 3 cross-point screws that hold the solenoid are "red" loctite in and may fight you removing them.

Post by **abscate** » 01 Jun 2024, 04:25

Look around town for an old school automotive electric shop,with British cars parked outside.

That’s your gal/ guy

I pay about $100 to get mine rebuilt with good parts at a shop near Albany NY. I think I have a guy down here In Port Jefferson too, haven’t stopped in

Post by **JimBee** » 02 Jun 2024, 10:25

To properly test a starter by a well-equipped shop, the armature has to come out. Taking apart the case is not hard, but to reassemble it you need to remove the solenoid. Then, you'll discover what 67Amazon is referring to—those screws are intended not to come out. I had one tested at an old school shop like abscate mentions, even the tech who had piles of starter and alternator casings scattered around, using his best tools and techniques, couldn't crack one of those 3 screws loose, though he got the other two out. He had extra screws that he gave me. That starter tested out as good as new; it's a junk yard harvest, with another one sitting in inventory. Sadly, the shop closed when owner retired.