How do starters usually die on you? On my 89 jeep xj the starter was working perfectly fine.. Then one day the engine was turning iver very slowly, it got slower, and slower. Then it just quit, i did check the battery and all the connections and they were good, even tried jumping it still it wouldnt start.. Im just windering if thats how they usually go out? Thanks

 

That actually sounds exactly like a starter dying, yes.

Happened twice on 2 different 4.0's to me.

You go to start it one day, and its REALLY hesitant, but turns over anyway, and then drives perfectly fine. Start it again - nada.

Hit the starter with a hammer a few times (not crazy hard, but whack it). Then start it. My guess is it will work, which I've seen on probably the last 5-6 starters I've had go bad in various vehicles. If not, doesn't mean that the starter isn't going bad, but it's just an easy test.

 

Starters can also die more 'suddenly', but what you describe sounds like the starter dying...especially if you verified the other causes for increasingly slower starting/cranking.

If you have gone through some mud or the likes, the starter might be worth cleaning out before you buy a new one.

 

A few sharp smacks with a hammer seems to knock the crap off of the brushes & brush holders, and get it working again, even if it's time to change the starter......

 

Exactly. Don't get the idea that, if you whack it and it starts, you are good to go for a few more years, or even months. That might get you to the weekend so you can replace the starter, but that starter is going, going, and one day it will be gone and no amount of whacking will get it going.

Much better to replace it before that final death.

 

Absolutely, Mark. I use a hammer for two things: getting home if stuck, and also as a quick test to see that it is indeed the starter. As I said, it's not a sure thing if it doesn't work, but if it DOES work, then boom - it's your starter.

 

Not good on these starters. The magnets are epoxied to the inner part of the case, and smacking them will bust em sometimes.

 

My crystal ball says his starter is coated in oil both inside and out due to a leaking oil filter adapter.

Whaddya think?

 

Im pretty sure this starter i dead dead, i wacked on it a few and it will turn a bit then just quit, my jeep has no leaks at all!

 

Never trust a jeep with no leaks.

 

I have seen the magnets break apart. Starters can go slow or in a split second. There is not a common alarm to when this happens unfortunately.

If you have to tap it just replace it. Why even fool with it. I have actually bought brushes for 5 bucks that were twice the size. Filed them down and fixed the problem. But i would advise just replacing it if possible.

 

Besides for 60$ for a new (not rebuilt) starter. Why wouldn't you?

 

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