starter solenoid failure

[goldrat]

I am posting this here. The starter on my 2009 city failed and was replaced with a surplus unit. I asked the mechanic why the solenoid could not just be replaced to save the starter motor. The reply was that the solenoid and starter motor came as a unit. Anybody care to comment?

[H1Tman]

Kung napalitan na at it's working fine, I don't think this will matter. But keep the original and have it repaired at Yocks, for future use.

[oj88]

Since you were buying a used part, it's not worth the trouble just transferring the solenoid. As long as the replacement starter motor is good, just replace the whole assembly.

The solenoid is essentially one with the starter. Aside from its job of switching high-current, it also moves the pinion gear towards the flywheel when it becomes energized. Transferring just the solenoid could mess up something else inadvertently and the whole mechanism could fail.

[ice15]

in the old days... the solenoid can be replaced.

pero honestly, di pa ako nakakakita ng starter ng "modern cars" and I'm not sure if its worth the time and effort to "repair" a broken starter.

[oj88]

in the old days... the solenoid can be replaced.

pero honestly, di pa ako nakakakita ng starter ng "modern cars" and I'm not sure if its worth the time and effort to "repair" a broken starter.

Starter motor assemblies are intrinsically very reliable and lasts a very long time. Oftentimes, it would last the life of the car. If they do fail, there are plenty of them available in the used market.

The only time you may want to consider repairing is when it's a rare part, such that if it came from a vehicle/engine that was imported but never sold locally.

[ice15]

Starter motor assemblies are intrinsically very reliable and lasts a very long time. Oftentimes, it would last the life of the car. If they do fail, there are plenty of them available in the used market.

personal experience ko sa FX (2C engine) - every time tinatamaan ng flood water yung starter, nasusunog sya

[dr. d]

I am posting this here. The starter on my 2009 city failed and was replaced with a surplus unit. I asked the mechanic why the solenoid could not just be replaced to save the starter motor. The reply was that the solenoid and starter motor came as a unit. Anybody care to comment?

to clarify,
did the starter fail, or did the solenoid fail?
they's two different items, sharing a common assembly.

i do not know about your car's solenoid-only repair-ability,
but when my non-honda solenoid failed, the mechanic just replaced the solenoid.

the choice probably will also depend on the price difference between brand-new solenoid-only replacement, versus starter+solenoid assembly surplus replacement.
one thing i will avoid if i can: repair the solenoid. in my view, it's a replace-only item.

[oj88]

Growing up in the 70's and 80's in my dad's talyer, I recall seeing customers occasionally come in with problematic starters. I guess back then, starters were more taxed because engines only had carburetors and more often than not, they will not start on the first 'click'. Carburetor issues, problems with the distributor cap (contact points, condenser, timing, etc.) or the high-voltage systems (hi-tension wires, ignition coil, etc.), all worked towards a hard-starting engine.

Modern engines with EFI and ECM/PCM, made it more likely for the engine to start on the first try. I think that and other technological improvements to the overall engine and starter design, including engine mass and weight reduction, etc., lends towards their increased reliability nowadays.

[dr. d]

next to the engine block, the starter is probably the second-most bullet-proof item under the hood.

[jick.cejoco]

next to the engine block, the starter is probably the second-most bullet-proof item under the hood.

Some V8s like Lexus LS450 the starter is located in the valley between cylinder banks under the intake manifold. Some have the starter inside the transmission bell housing. Either of these two locations is a pain in the arse to service.