Replace the starter solenoid or the whole thing?

[DJiGGs]

Looks like my starter is biting the dust. Has happened about 3 times now.

If the car sits for over 36 hours, when I try to start it everything lights up I have battery power, but it wont even start to crank. Try pushing the button a couple times making sure Im pressing hard on the brake, still nothing.

Give the car like 10 minutes, try again, and it works. Did some searching around and others have mentioned it takes a bit for the solenoid to heat up.

If the car is driven daily I have 0 issues. No error codes at all car starts up instantly. I could get the battery tested, but I really doubt that may be the case. I guess I could try to leave the car on the battery tender for a few days and try to start it to see if I have the same issue.

But if it is the starter......

...the question I have is, since I'll be spending all the time getting to the starter, is worth it for me to just replace the entire starter or just the solenoid....? I mean if the starter failed I wouldn't be able to start it at all no?

Also does anyone know if its possible to remove the solenoid without removing the starter, it looks like one bolt is accessible but I'm not sure about the other.



Also I noticed the ground wire/static strap on the drivers side where the exhaust tips are, was ripped..... any chance that may have something to do with it? (I'm assuming not....)


Appreciate any insight.

[jdamore]

If it were me in your shoes (I have an 08 too), I would do the starter not only for a piece of mind but, because it was updated and sounds better.

[Redd]

How old is your batt? I'd also check the front ground strap if your rear one is already corroded.

I'm not aware of solenoid being sold separately from starter motor. Seems to be one piece to me.

[DJiGGs]

Originally Posted by Redd

How old is your batt? I'd also check the front ground strap if your rear one is already corroded.

I'm not aware of solenoid being sold separately from starter motor. Seems to be one piece to me.

Battery is probably 4 years old.
ECS has it

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...h/12417836450/

[romero1990]

I was in the same shoe. some said it could also be the grounding. I added a new ground wire and gonna take a look at the ground strap. maybe another thing to look at before taking the top apart.

[amrazM]

Starter is going out, change it before you get left stranded.

[dpaul]

Originally Posted by Redd

I'd also check the front ground strap if your rear one is already corroded.

This.

Very possibly your starter needs replacement but a failing front ground strap can cause the symptoms you describe. Check the simple things first before committing to starter replacement. The strap may look ok but give it a tug. Alternatively test by connecting a jumper cable between engine block and a chassis ground

[romero1990]

I added a ground cable from engine to the chassis. It doesn't seem to solve the problem. it cranks ok on hotter days. Which kinda points to the solenoid.

I am also debating if I should get a whole thing or just the solenoid. go with bosch or valeo since it's not very cheap to just throw away if not working

[dpaul]

Originally Posted by romero1990

I added a ground cable from engine to the chassis. It doesn't seem to solve the problem. it cranks ok on hotter days. Which kinda points to the solenoid.

I am also debating if I should get a whole thing or just the solenoid. go with bosch or valeo since it's not very cheap to just throw away if not working

It's a fair amount of disassembly to get to the starter. In your shoes, I'd replace the starter/solenoid to make sure I'd only have to do it once. I wouldn't hesitate to use the remanufactured one for $130 that Mog-10 posted

[Redd]

I would also replace the cable from alternator to starter while you're in there.

[nrubenstein]

The starter is way too much of a pain in the ass to change on the S65 to do it halfassed.

I would also highly recommend being careful about where you buy the starter from. The quality of rebuilds is often very poor. I would advise AGAINST using the rebuilt starter from some random rebuilder on RockAuto.

[DJiGGs]

Car runs and starts great as long as it doesn't sit for longer than 30-40ish hours.

Weird thing is over
The winter I have never had a problem when it sits for 6 months and it starts right away.

Oh well is what it is.
Might try to squeeze by the rest of the summer and tackle this in the spring and might as well change out some pieces that need to be removed to access the starter, like the breather valve etc..

Car is at 114,000 kms. There is probably a list of maintenance I need to do so might be worth it to do all at once.

Any recommendations on things I should look at while tearing it apart to replace ?

[dpaul]

Originally Posted by nrubenstein

The starter is way too much of a pain in the ass to change on the S65 to do it halfassed.

I would also highly recommend being careful about where you buy the starter from. The quality of rebuilds is often very poor. I would advise AGAINST using the rebuilt starter from some random rebuilder on RockAuto.

Probably good advice.

However, FWIW, I've used without any issue many types of "random" supplier electrical components from Rock Auto including remanufactured starters for both an N54 335xi and a 4.3L GM V6.

I'm told that certain items like MAP sensors, Xenon lamps, fuel injectors and spark plugs are so profitable to counterfeit that even buying the OE marked part from the wrong source can be problematic. But I've used Rock Auto to get a much better price on OEM supplier components like DMF flywheels from LUK and Bosch oxygen sensors without issue.

I have great affection for Rock Auto.

[nrubenstein]

Originally Posted by dpaul

Probably good advice.

However, FWIW, I've used without any issue many types of "random" supplier electrical components from Rock Auto including remanufactured starters for both an N54 335xi and a 4.3L GM V6.

I'm told that certain items like MAP sensors, Xenon lamps, fuel injectors and spark plugs are so profitable to counterfeit that even buying the OE marked part from the wrong source can be problematic. But I've used Rock Auto to get a much better price on OEM supplier components like DMF flywheels from LUK and Bosch oxygen sensors without issue.

I have great affection for Rock Auto.

I use Rockauto plenty. They sell good parts, they sell garbage parts. You just have to pick through. But I'd have a very hard time recommending a random rebuild.

[dpaul]

Originally Posted by nrubenstein

I use Rockauto plenty. They sell good parts, they sell garbage parts. You just have to pick through. But I'd have a very hard time recommending a random rebuild.

Again, probably good advice

For an alternator, I'd agree. But electric starter technology hasn't changed much in 100 years. And people have been rebuilding them for as long. It requires knowledge and some investment in equipment but not proprietary tech or magical incantations. Sure, sometimes the cheapest part comes at the cost of substandard components or careless assembly. But in 50 years of replacing parts, I've had more OE starters fail than the random rebuilds I always buy. In fact, I may never have had a rebuild fail. Yes, that's an anecdote, not a statistically validated observation.

So OP, weigh the caveats and make the choice that suits you best.