I have a powermaster high-torque ministarter. Its the one without a snout to hold the gear in place when extended, to save weight, model #9513.

Anyhow, Lately, upon first click, it will spin freely, but not extend to engage in the torque converter. So I let go of the key, try it again, and all works well.

Any ideas? Proably a sticky solenoid? I think you can replace these seperately.

Also, the new MP units are $140 at summit. Is the price difference worth it over a parts store rebuilt? Doesn't look like it since price + core is going to be more then that.

The new units are $70 on Ebay. Remember, this starter is just the recent-production standard-equipment starter used on Dodge trucks. Nothin' more, nothin' less. The Powermaster people are very good at hyping their stuff to make it sound exotic and exclusive, but their best-honed skill is markup.

As for saving weight with the noseless starter, this is not a good trade for starting reliability. The setups that use the noseless starter from the factory have the nose support machined into the bellhousing; applications intended for a starter with a nosecone have a boss to align the starter (which, again, doesn't have anything to work with on the noseless starter), and don't have any built-in support for the starter pinion. You will go through noseless starters on a needs-a-nosecone application like a 3-pack-a-day smoker goes through Marlboros. The weight you save is a matter of a few ounces. If you need to save a few ounces, have a helper hold your wallet and shoes whenever you drag race.

Keep it real!

To cut a long story short, I didn't buy the noseless starter for the purpose of weight savings, I just bought it because I wanted a starter with more torque because my freshly assembled engine wouldn't turn with my stock starter. Someone else had assembled the engine and this was before I knew the difference between a manifold and lugnut so I had to trust other peoples opinions. I kept telling him something had to be wrong but nooooo.... Turned out a main bearing cap was put on backwards.
Almost glad this happend because this incident is what prompted me to take my car issues into my own hands, learn, and do the work myself.

Thanks for the ebay tip. I searched for nippondenso starter before but didn't come up with much, now I tried mopar mini starter and hit paydirt.

We're gonna get along just fine...I always EXCLUDE "mini" from my starter searches on Ebay 'cause while I cannot argue that the mini starter works great (it does), I don't like how it makes my Mopars sound like Subarus when they're crankin'! So, you can have all the mini ones, I promise not to get in a bidding war with ya.

Hehe no problem there, more listings for mopar starters then I can count on my hands and feet and lots are buy it now.

How cool, one auction listed it as being applicable to any engine size from 170-440. You usually don't see much listed as being directly compatible with our slants, let alone in the same group as bigblocks. Only thing I ever came across was plug tube seals are same as the hemi ones.

You can save a ton of money by getting a mini starter from a junk yard. I got mine for 35 bucks. Spent some time cleaning it up, painted the center black, and it looks like new. No problems in the 3 years I've had it on my daily used Satellite.

Usually I would agree with you Eric, but most of the yards around here don't have cars in the 90's years, they stop at late 80's. There is one late model junkyard that gets all the wrecks but they usually charge more so I would just rather have the piece of mind of a new one that comes with a warranty.

Although I have seen an intrepid crop up every now and then. But meh, its been cold (yes, I'm a wussy californian that considers 40-50degF freezing) and raining here recently so I would rather not deal with the weather.

Wussy Californian, you haven't lived till you get used to working in a junkyard in 20-30 degrees(or working on your car in -10 because the stupid thing decided to break down when it was that cold).

Hmm... second thought, if that's living maybe it's overrated .

-Shivadart
Bet the Canadian folks on the board have some real fun stories

Grrrrrrrr...

It might be just hype but this is the ad that was used with the re-built mini starter that I just bought for $70 on e-bay.
Bob D

DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE PHOTO'S ON EBAY. ALL EBAY ITEMS ARE NOT EXACTLY REPRESENTED BY THE PHOTO'S. OURS IS 100% ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT REMAN. BETTER THAN NEW UNITS (SEE WHY BELOW). MONEY BACK GUARANTEE, PLUS THE FREIGHT COST...I GUARANTEE YOUR SATISFACTION! WHO ELSE GIVES YOU THAT ANYWHERE.

**ASK THE OTHERS WHO MAKES THEIR STARTERS...EVERY NEW STARTER OFFERED ON EBAY COMES FROM THE SAME EXACT SOURCE AND ARE MADE IN TAIWAN AND THEY CANNOT HANDLE THE HEAT NOR THE TORQUE. THEY ARE MADE WITH LOW QUALITY INTERNAL PARTS THAT NEED TO BE HEAT TREATED AND ARE ONLY COLD FORGED. MY UNITS ARE 100% ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT NIPPONDENSO, REMANUFACTURED BY ISO9002 FACTORY!

***1 Year Powerbuilt Guarantee***

Bob, so you would rather get a rebuilt off of ebay instead of the parts store?

Practically the only thing that ever "breaks" on the Nippondenso mini starters is the solenoid contacts, and the page at http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml shows how to get at 'em and replace 'em. Another source for the contacts is http://www.weldtechnology.com/disp/Mopa ... -80735.htm .

Most of the new starters on eBay are s h i t t y Chinese copycat crapola not worth buying. Find a factory part number or keep looking.

Powermaster tech support said it sounds more like the clutch is going out then the solenoid. Clutch replacment = $54, solenoid kit = $22. Meh. Starter behaved properly today, go figure.

I put a mini starter in my red car simply because I can install it after the headers are on the car.

If yours doesn't pull in on the first try it is possible you have an electrical problem in the car itself. Maybe your starter relay is getting worn. (That is if you still run yours like I do.)

_________________
Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Not necessarily. I was going to get one in a junk yard, but when I saw this one it seemed like good quality for a fair price so I got it.
The reason that I posted was to give a "heads up" that some of the starters on e-bay might be junk.
Bob D