54bobby Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 my 87 2.5 won't start. plenty of juice but the starter just clicks once then nothing. truck is in a parking lot, grrrr. I have no electrical testing tools or abilities. I'm guessing the starter. what about you guys? am I right? I found one local but can't get it till Friday. how hard are they to change out on the side of the road?? grrr again. what tool are needed? socket and wrench sizes? please help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave92cherokee Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 If you've got a hammer or something like that try smacking the side as it sounds like its seized. Might get lucky enough to get it to start and get home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 gona try givin it a wack tomorrow. if I have to change it out on the road, do I need standard or metric? how many wires are there 2 or 3? and on the 87 2.5 will I be able to r and r w/o removing any cross members or any other structural items? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 If it's a stick.......push start it. The bolts are funky star heads.........12pt sockets only........IIRC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Get a screw driver, or remote starter button. Connect the two large studs on the solenoid together. The starter should spin freely. If not. the starter is bad. Now short the large top stud to the small terminal on the solenoid. The starter should now engage and turn your engine over. If not, the solenoid is bad. The two bolts holding the starter on are 15 mm. The two large studs on the solenoid are 13mm. The small stud on the solenoid is 8mm. [/url Altho the starter shown here uses 15mm 6point some do use a torx. And 10-4 on what Pete said below. And before anybody points it out, that was a 4.0 starter. I had it laying on the bench. I didn't have a 2.5. Except for the mounting, what I said still goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanchemodder Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 I checked out the Torx head bolt from my 2.5L in my garage. You should be able to get a 3/8" 12 point socket on it if you don't have a Torx; but you run the risk of rounding them. My current 2.5l starter has hex-head bolts on it. You may get lucky and have the hex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 do make sure that any manual trans is in neutral (and better yet, someone also has their foot firmly on the brake) before trying to crank over the engine via touching the starter. :thumbsup: we don't want ya running yourself over with your own truck. :shake: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 what size hex? as I will probably need to pick one up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 looks easy to short the terminals on the tailgate. how hard is it while on the truck and on the side of the road. grrr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 A piece of wire with a alligator clip on each end also works, and is easier to use. You can also take a longer piece of wire. Attach one end to the battery pos. Now you only have one wire to move, work with.And yes the tailgate is much more accessible. But then we can't have everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanchemodder Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 I guess if Santa can make it down all the kid's chimney, I can shimmy under one truck: The hex heads on my starter are 9/16" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 problem with shimmying under the truck is my belly is as big as santas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Image Not Found E14 Torx or 10mm multi-socket or 12 point. The bolt is 4" long.........maybe 12 1.50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 this is bull$#!& the night before Christmas. anybody wana fly into south jersey and help change out a starter in exchange for some of the wifes over cooked dry as $#!& Christmas vacation style turkey? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 My wife is cooking some stuffed cabbage.........I'm staying home:P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 I hear that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinkrun Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 If I were closer I would be there its really not hard. Remember to unhook the battery first it you remove the starter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 I have no doubt that I can do it as I work on all my rides. my 86 bimmer has almost 400,000 on the clock. it's just my first manche starter and looking for the unexpected heads ups from you guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Actually it may be just a loose/corroded battery terminal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 not the terminals. there both good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 They can look good and still have poor connection. If you wipe your finger across the post and there is grey paste, that's lead oxide and it does NOT pass power well. That click you hear will be it going over the amount it can carry and arcing. You'd be surprised how many people replace batteries when all they need to do is clean the posts and clamps (clamps can melt/corrode where they meet the cable too) They even replace their alternator or at least pull it off and have it tested when there is nothing wrong with it either, but the loose post can kill the alternator from it full fielding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 there's a rubber boot on the top terminal on the starter. not much room from underneath, can't get my hand in there to pull the boot off. looks like i'll have to remove the oil filter. what would be the chance of the problem being the starter relay? could it be bad and the starter still click when trying to start her? or would the starter not make any sound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 The solenoid on the starter could be worn out. Another thought occurred. Ground connector next to the coil may be loose. Have you tried jumpstarting it yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 if you mean a traditional jump start, yes. I have not tried jumping directly to the starter cause I can't get my hand up in there to get the rubber boot off. 45 degrees tomorrow. i'll wait till then. all wires are tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oyaji Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Carnuck gave good info about terminals and connections. Just because they look good doesn't mean they are good - check to be sure. The fellas who suggested rapping on the starter gave a good tip too. As a starter gets older, particles from wear accumulate, and the brushes themselves get shorter. The combination of the 2 can cause the brushes to hang up when the pressure of the springs that press the brushes to the commutator becomes insufficient for the brushes to make good contact. Rapping the starter is sometimes all it takes to get the brushes to make good contact... but don't depend on this too many times - you can ruin your starter by using it with worn-out brushes. Pull it, clean it, and replace the brushes at first opportunity. Jim gave the best advice for troubleshooting the starter itself. Do the above, then run his simple tests, then remediate appropriately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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