new rebuilt starter from O'reilly went crazy

[Cutehumor]

ok, I've had this starter for my 96 sunfire for two weeks. Everything has been fine. Today, when I went to start my car, the starter cranked the engine over fine, but the starter kept cranking the engine over and over and over again. It would not stop. I turned the engine off and took my key out of the ignition. The starter was starting the car by itself over and over without the key in the ignition. I had to unhook the negative terminal on my battery to get it to stop. sparks of course and burned my fingers. This starter tested good at oreilly auto parts before I put it in. I have a 30 day return with receipt. It's been two weeks. what went wrong with this starter?

 

[-Clayton-]

Sticky solenoid.

 

[mechtech2]

Unless you gt a Bosch rebuild or other high priced properly rebuilt starter, expect this kind of nonsense.
Sure, the Warranty is great for the cheapo rebuilds, but I have been bitten too many times to waste anymore time with them.

 

[Cutehumor]

What's my recourse? full refund or another lifetime starter?

 

[Gary Allan]

Swap it out for another one. The odds of another glitch are slim.

 

[Cutehumor]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Swap it out for another one. The odds of another glitch are slim.


actually...two years ago on my 92 Mitsubishi Mirage. I used an advance auto lifetime starter. the starter wheel broke at the flywheel. I swapped it for a mitsu rebuilt starter.

 

[alreadygone]

Seen that happen a few times over the past 30 years. Every time has been high voltage, low amperage battery condition. What happened to the old starter? Betting you replace battery soon.

Bob

 

[punisher]

This one was part of my learning curve in the shop. Had a car come in on the hook, whenever the batt was connected, the starter would turn the engine over. I didn't waste time diagnosing it, I just gave an estimate for a new starter. Sure enough, after the new starter went in, I hooked up the battery, and it started cranking all by itself. Finally traced it to a shorted ignition switch.

Likely the starter solenoid is the problem, very likely. Just for grins, unplug the starter solenoid wire and see if it still acts the same.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Swap it out for another one. The odds of another glitch are slim.


actually...two years ago on my 92 Mitsubishi Mirage. I used an advance auto lifetime starter. the starter wheel broke at the flywheel. I swapped it for a mitsu rebuilt starter.


Oh ..you're a calamity magnet too, huh? Don't get struck by lightening and survive.

 

[Cutehumor]

Originally Posted By: alreadygone
Seen that happen a few times over the past 30 years. Every time has been high voltage, low amperage battery condition. What happened to the old starter? Betting you replace battery soon.

Bob


I replaced the battery with a duralast after I replaced the starter. hmm.. the old starter was a core to oreilly, the old starter spun but the engine didn't crank. I had full power even tried with a jump. It was a loud knock sound from the starter.

 

[Cutehumor]

Gary,

if my memory serves me correct, Advanced auto parts tried to give me another starter, and they were fighting me to give me a refund. They swore up and down that my flywheel was messed up because the Advanced auto part starter wheel broke. But they tried to make it right with another starter. which didn't make sense. I took a pic of my Mitsu flywheel because I couldn't see it due to lack of space when they tried to scare me.

I ended up getting my money back. I used the money for an OEM mitsu starter. I installed the OEM starter and had no problems for a year when I sold the car.

I'll be able to take a look at the sunfire starter tomorrow on my day off and I'll try removing the solenoid wire to see if it does anything. If I return this starter back, I'm sure they will test this starter, will it still pass with the problem I'm having?

 

[Cutehumor]

Originally Posted By: punisher
This one was part of my learning curve in the shop. Had a car come in on the hook, whenever the batt was connected, the starter would turn the engine over. I didn't waste time diagnosing it, I just gave an estimate for a new starter. Sure enough, after the new starter went in, I hooked up the battery, and it started cranking all by itself. Finally traced it to a shorted ignition switch.

Likely the starter solenoid is the problem, very likely. Just for grins, unplug the starter solenoid wire and see if it still acts the same.


After two days of working 12.5 hr shifts, I finally unplugged the starter solenoid wire this afternoon. hooked the battery up. put the keys in the ignition in the "on" position. the starter didn't turn.

 

[Colt45ws]

Ignition switch, or the starter relay by the battery is bad. I would check that relay first.

 

[Cutehumor]

Just got back from O'reilly auto parts. The same guy I bought the starter from two weeks ago was there. He tested the starter before I put it in my car. He tested it again when I returned it. It failed their machine test. It passed 17 days ago when I bought it. I got my money back. I'm going to get an OEM new starter. anyone know of any good GM oem part websites with good prices?

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
anyone know of any good GM oem part websites with good prices?


I've used http://www.gmpartsdirect.com in the past with good results.

 

[carlprop]

I second the gmpartsdirect.com I've never had very good luck with anything rebuilt. Can't go wrong with OEM.