so today the kid calls and says my old 92 chevy diesel pickup won't start,just kinda chattered and thats it.i said sounds like its not getting enough juice and check the batt cables as the pass side where both cables bolt to the battery is good for getting loose.calls back no go.so i drive over hook the chain to it, pull start him(man i love manual transmissions) and told him i'd meet him at home.well the chatter was the fuel pump so i figured it might be brushes so go to take starter off.well after getting the bolts out it sure seemed to move pretty freely but i still had the small wire that energizes the solenoid.go to take it off and the nut procedes to snap off taking most of the stud with it.get starter out and the main batt cable corroded right off the starter.so i figure the starter is still good.go to get a solenoid and positive batt cable.solenoid is $243.00.i about crapped my pants and told the guy he was full of $#it.get home and start checking online and sure enough a bare solenoid is 175 bucks and up yet i can get a whole NEW starter with solenoid for $140.i would like to know why they can sell me a whole starter for way less then just the solenoid.

I understand your rantings... I want to do a solonoid at times, but it's just not cost effective.
I think the starters are the same on all the diesel's (6.2 6.2 turbo, and 6.5 turbo) Driveworks 6469S ??

Have you checked around for a used one? By me I'm finding them for $60 used...


~Nate

__________________
95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

I'm having the same issue with the battery backup for my computer. To buy and ship a new battery is more expensive then buying another brand new backup.

__________________
1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

MB starter + solenoid was also cheaper than solenoid alone.

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

i sure miss the days when you could go to the parts store get a solenoid,brushes,bearings etc and just basically rebuild it yourself.with the defective stuff i have got right off the shelf i trust myself alot more then some minimum wage romperroom reject.

Notice how most auto parts sores nowadays are not much more than places you can buy wax and oil and car deodorant...?

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

have you tried to buy wiper blade inserts? just the rubber inserts?

now they want sell you the whole arm

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

Yes, I have, as recently as yesterday. No can do anymore. That's real progress.

Not too long ago (5 years ago?) I was able to find these "generic" inserts that were about 28" long that you just cut to fit anything and they were about $1/pair. I wish I could find them now. Noooo, that makes too much sense when we can have an entire display of designer blades at $5 each and up that basically ALL DO THE SAME THING

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

The days of the "auto parts store" are numbered anyway. Real parts are too specialized to be kept in stock by a local store; very few people do any work that involves anything more than oil filters; and people who do need real parts buy them on-line anyway. They will be replaced by the auto section of walmart within a few years.

This is why I am planning a trip to France.
Why? well, you can buy zillions of MB parts such as solenoids etc because they are no longer required to keep them beyond a certain time period.
So I'm buying selected W123 and other parts by the dozen. That's the deal

- solenoids are 25,75 Euros each for W123-style Bosch starter (OEM)
- remember those plastic vacuum assemblies for the 722.xxx trannies? They are 10,05 Euros each and I have to buy 12, ok so what? Think I can sell or use those? Prolly.
- OM 616 aluminum thermostat housings are 18,90 Euros each, buying 5
- the guy has W123 5 cyl pumps but he wants 40,00 Euros each and wants me to buy 37. No room, no extra cash for that many.

Plus I have Citoren parts to buy.

My friend Joe and I are renting a camper, stopping at places, buying the stuff, then going to Germany to ship it to the US through APO, since I am eligible.

I hate to hoard things but it's the only way to avoid being p*mped nowadays.

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

Strel-

What do you do with all those parts? Do you sell them retail stateside?

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

I wouldn't mind a trip to france if I had time, but I don't think I would bother with the auto parts. I can get anything I need within a couple of days here.

My local Napa store has most of what I need and can get stuff next day in most cases if it's special order. And they're not morons either.

It helps that I know what I want, and since I sell parts, I also know how to find them or who to ask. If I need something that's strictly MB then I have a WD in Toronto for that. When a parts guy talks to another parts guy a lot of the usual crap is reduced.

Stuff like:
'' Well..... it's kinda round and it's about 4 inches long and it sits on the engine somewhere. NO...... wait..... it goes at the back, I think....... not sure, but I'm sure you'd have one. ''
'' Back of the engine or back of the car? ''
'' Ummm..... not sure, maybe back of the car? ''

'' Yeah, ( buddy ) I have those in stock. How many you need? ''

" Oh... Cool! Uh..... how much is it? ''
" $12.95 ''
'' Oh...... well, I was just wonderin' 'cause I have a used one, and now I know how much to ask for it. But thanks anyway, thanks for your time. '' ( at least he's polite )
'' Sure, don't mention it.'' ( really, don't )

I have had this sort of discussion with a parts girl at CAT, the only difference was that she was the one with the vague description.
When it happens, I just ask to speak to the regional manager ( I use his name & no mention of his title).
There are plenty of work experience kids answering the phone in large organizations.
If the kid is up front at the start & wants to be lead through what they need to do, its fine unless I am in a hurry & having a bad day !!

Its still better that a call center in India !!

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving