I'm looking to replace the starter on my 99. Figured I'd get one for a 98 as they are way cheaper but need recommendations based on people's experiences.
I've searched but haven't found what I need......

New vs. remanufactured ?
Brands ?

 

I don't know that brand is much of an issue as long as you avoid the Ebay/Amazon cheap Chinese "new" junk. It's tough to justify a rebuild when you can buy new, name brand (Delco, Mitsubishi) for about the same money.

 

Mine in my '00 started acting up about 2 years ago. Leaving work the Jeep would not start. Tapped the solenoid. Started. When it happened a second time I said screw it. I bought a new Napa one. Not cheap but I plan on keeping the Jeep so that is why I did not buy the remaned one. Even though I think it would have been OK. I say whatever you choose buy it local. Mine comes with a lifetime warranty and should something happen I just go to Napa and that is that. Just out of curiosity is yours covered with oil? That is what kills them sometimes.

 

Mine was covered in oil and recently scraped away all the crud and build up. I don't know its pedigree and with 200k on the odo it might not be a bad item to replace. Last thing I want to do is to replace it with one that fails prematurely....

 

Go to widautoparts1993 on e buy.
$45 for a Mitsubishi rebuild with a 1 year warranty .
Have one,works great.
Clean & save the old one for a spare.

 

Don't worry about replacing it till you fix the oil leak that's what happened to the one you now have. Oil filter adpt. O-Rings bad?


Another heads-up on buying local never buy online for electrical items. All we use are AutoZone brand rebuilt on our personal and company cars and trucks. I've had one of them go bad in the last 12 yrs. (maybe 8 or 9 total) and that was on a F-250 Power Stroke after 5 1/2 yrs of use, lifetime warranty on them as well.

 

NAPA all the way. If you are going to keep it a long time or have some money to burn, I like MeanGreen.

 

Oil leak has been repaired. Now I need to choose which brand to get and choose either a 98 or 99 starter. Is it possible to remove the connector for the smaller wire and transfer it to a 98 starter?

 

My starter went out and I bought one for $65 at the local auto parts store. It didn't even last a year. I ended up putting in a factory one and have had no problems since.

 

I put a piece of rubber tube over my starter. it helps keep oil off the starter and the oil filter wrench from coming into direct contact with the starter +

 

I can't picture it offhand, but Cruiser said they could be swapped in another thread.

 

Just replaced the starter in our '01 Limited 2 weeks ago. I went with a new NAPA Premium starter. Since my daughter drives the jeep most of the time, I got it for the "peace of mind" factor.