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Why does the starter keep going out?

Tiny
JNESS80537
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 FORD TEMPO
  • 17,900 MILES
I bought my car in 2007 from a the original owner, one owner. It is a 5speed manual, front wheel drive. Since then I have had to replace the starter 3 times, and once again the starter has quit. If the starter is tapped on, it will allow me to start the car. What could be causing the starter to continually go out like this? Could it be that the starter isn't strong enough? The 3 times the starter has been replace, it has been done in a shop, and the purchase was made at Napa Auto parts, so they have not been refurbished, but brand new.
Is there something else that is connected to the starter that would cause it to go out?
Please help, this is very frustrating.
Thank you
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Saturday, November 12th, 2011 AT 8:28 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If your taping on the starter to make it start thats usually a bad starter solenoid is that how all the starters went out where you had to tap on them to start them?
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Saturday, November 12th, 2011 AT 10:54 PM
Tiny
JNESS80537
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I didn't try to tap on the first 3, because when they went out, all the car did was click a couple of times when turning the key, then nothing at all. This is the first time we've tapped on it. And isn't the solenoid inside the starter, because if I remember correctly, this starter is all one piece, there is nothing attached to it.
And if its the solenoid that is going out, why? Is there a glitch with the Ford Tempo starter we do not know about. Why is just the starter going out?
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Sunday, November 13th, 2011 AT 5:44 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
If I remember correctly, this starter is all one piece, there is nothing attached to it.

Doesn't it have a battery terminal the big stud where the battery cable is connected to-Best check if the starter relay is wired correctly-also check the NSS/TRS and ignition switch
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Sunday, November 13th, 2011 AT 7:20 AM
Tiny
JJIMENEZ8891
  • MEMBER
  • 29 POSTS
DOES THE VEHICLE HAVE ANY FLUID LEAKS DIRECTLY ON THE STARTER THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF? YOU COULD CHECK THOSE AS RASMATAZ SAID BUT THOSE WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH TAPING IT. THE SOLENOID IS LOCKING UP AND IS ONE PIECE WITH STARTER.
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Sunday, November 13th, 2011 AT 7:48 AM
Tiny
JNESS80537
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
It does have an oil leak right above it. At first I thought it was the oil filter that was leaking, but after having an oil change done, we found out that is not the problem. The oil leak is coming from the valve cover gaskets. But it does leak down onto the starter. Is it possible for the oil to get inside the starter, it looked like it was all sealed up pretty good.
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Sunday, November 13th, 2011 AT 9:45 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Its grounding out the solenoid and the armature
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Sunday, November 13th, 2011 AT 9:54 PM
Tiny
JNESS80537
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Is there a way to stop it, short of replacing the valve cover gaskets? Is it possible to put a shield of some sort over the top of the starter, so that the oil flows around it instead of on top of it?
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Sunday, November 13th, 2011 AT 10:04 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
You're playing John Wayne here fix the leak at the valve cover and get it over with. If you wish you can use duct tape-
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Monday, November 14th, 2011 AT 1:20 AM
Tiny
JJIMENEZ8891
  • MEMBER
  • 29 POSTS
Nope sorry exactly what I was getting at the leak needs to be fixed I have seen it plenty of times. Get it fixed its the best for the vehicle. Rasmataz is right get it over with.
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Monday, November 14th, 2011 AT 3:29 AM
Tiny
JJIMENEZ8891
  • MEMBER
  • 29 POSTS
Let me rephrase, this is not a guarantee solution of the issue but you have to start with the obvious and a starter is not likly to go out as many times on its own for no reason.
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Monday, November 14th, 2011 AT 3:30 AM

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