Schucks (Checker, Kragen, Etc.) Starters -- Good Idea? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Squiggle Dog · #1 12-17-2008, 08:27 PM

The starter in my 1979 300SD has been a slow cranker the whole time I've had it, but it has gotten worse. On Monday it would barely spin the engine, even after the battery had been charged fully and kept inside overnight, and had a second diesel battery hooked up to it with jumper cables. So I pulled the starter, and at Schucks I can get a Bosch starter completely 100% remanufactured and tested by Autolite for $89.99. It comes with a lifetime warranty and 24 month free towing and jumpstart service. It is in stock as well. Should I get it? It's really all I can afford right now and I know that other places are charging $200 or so for remanufactured ones. See it here: http://shop.oreillyauto.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=ATI&MfrPartNumber=16445&PartType=123&PTSet=A

barry123400 · #2 12-17-2008, 11:18 PM

The rebuilders in california have good product. Just look up rebuilt staters on ebay or mercedes diesel parts for sale on the web. You do not turn in your old starter for a core and prices are very good.

Their feedback is almost perfect if not actually perfect. So they are doing a good job. Including shipping to your door is cheaper than what you have been quoted unless they recently upped their prices.

Too many starters are mexican rebuilts out there with inferior new parts when used. This is not the easiest starter to change out you only want to do it once. Just my opinion. Order the later turbo starter as it is stronger I believe. 83-84 probably the best option. I year warranty. Even from Canada it pays me to order there.

pawoSD · #3 12-17-2008, 11:39 PM

We tried a USA reman'd starter in the 300D recently and learned the hard way, it lasted about 2 days before the bendix would not engage, it'd just grind. So we bought a GERMAN Bosch Rebuilt from Fastlane, works AMAZINGLY well. Never again will I try the cheapo stuff. German remans only!

awsrock · #4 12-18-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

The rebuilders in california have good product. Just look up rebuilt staters on ebay or mercedes diesel parts for sale on the web. You do not turn in your old starter for a core and prices are very good.

Their feedback is almost perfect if not actually perfect. So they are doing a good job. Including shipping to your door is cheaper than what you have been quoted unless they recently upped their prices.

Too many starters are mexican rebuilts out there with inferior new parts when used. This is not the easiest starter to change out you only want to do it once. Just my opinion. Order the later turbo starter as it is stronger I believe. 83-84 probably the best option. I year warranty. Even from Canada it pays me to order there.

I actually just bought one from them on ebay; they were quick to ship and the product looks nice. It's a Bosch reman, as far as I can tell. I paid like $109 with shipping.
Silly me though, I don't think that I actually need it..what I thought was my starter dying is more likely just the ignition switch or solenoid reacting to the cold. I'll probably keep it and put it in someday, though.

Squiggle Dog · #5 01-16-2009, 10:56 PM

I bought the $89.99 Autolite remanufactured starter from Schuck's. It spun much faster than the old one and seemed like it was decent. One of the screws on the solenoid wasn't long enough and was stripped out, so I used a different screw. It worked well for almost a whole month and then when I went to Schuck's today the car would not start. I have power to the solenoid but it won't activate the starter. It appears a new starter is in order. How disappointing.

Flounder · #6 01-17-2009, 11:45 AM

I bought a $79 starter off Advance Auto's website. It worked fine for about 3 months then just completely died one day. Not even a peep out of it. I tried the hammer trick, screwed with the cables, etc. It was just dead. So I learned my lesson and replaced it with a Bosch.

pawoSD · #7 01-17-2009, 11:48 AM

Yep, real-deal German rebuilt is the only way to go. Especially with something as annoying to replace as a starter.

Squiggle Dog · #8 01-17-2009, 12:13 PM

I might try smacking the solenoid today (if I can reach it).

I usually buy the best, but right now I am struggling financially and trying to get out of debt. I just paid off my two $300 credit cards and am trying to get caught up on back rent owed. Every time I get my head above water I end up having to spend hundreds on another part for my car.

I also didn't want to have to order a starter and wait days for it to arrive, as I had to be to work Monday morning. Schuck's had one in stock.

At least the starter bolts won't be rusted into the starter this time, though it would be nice if a previous owner had used the right size hex key.

Maybe I can borrow my roommate's fintail to get to work if I have to. If I have to use a credit card to purchase a starter I am going to be very sad.

pawoSD · #9 01-17-2009, 12:16 PM

Still better than a car payment though! Worst that can happen with a paid-for but broken car is that it just has to wait a little longer to be fixed....with a car payment they come take your car!

Squiggle Dog · #10 01-17-2009, 12:39 PM

Yeah. I could not afford a car payment, that's for sure. Though sometimes I wish they still built them like they used to, because I wouldn't mind buying a 5-year-old car that was still in like-new condition that didn't need anything more done to it other than routine maintenance. I just don't care for anything newer than the W116 body style, which all are now 30+ years old and bound to need constant part replacement. Actually, I like the W111 body style better, but my W111 is a custom engine swap in progress.

charmalu · #11 01-17-2009, 01:20 PM

Go to PNP, I think they are around $20.00. gives you the practice of removing parts. Plus you get spare bolts.

Just because the car is in PNP doesn`t mean the starters are bad. this might get you by until you can get your finances rolling again.

But then you go to Kragans etc... and expect one of there life time, newly rebuilt/remanufactured, freshly repainted starters to last.

Life time warranty doesn`t mean much, when you are laying out in the snow etc...-

charlie

Diesel911 · #12 01-17-2009, 02:12 PM

When poeple look inside of their starters what have they been finding is the main cause of starter failures?

If you do get a rebuilt starter from a local parts place how about having them "bench test" it before you leave the store with it.

Squiggle Dog · #13 01-17-2009, 02:17 PM

I never seem to get to the diesels at Pull-A-Part before the starters are pulled (they are not common to find).

This morning I went to where my car was parked and turned the key. The starter worked this time! The engine stumbled a little bit because I didn't let the glow plugs warm up, but the car ran and I drove it home.

When I got home I tested the starter again, and it fired up like it should! That's weird that it wouldn't start last night. It's not like it could have overheated, because it was less than a 5 minute drive from my house.

I just hope this doesn't happen again. It worries me that I could be out somewhere and have my car not start.

pawoSD · #14 01-17-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

When poeple look inside of their starters what have they been finding is the main cause of starter failures?

If you do get a rebuilt starter from a local parts place how about having them "bench test" it before you leave the store with it.

That means nothing.....I've had both starters (one from autozone, one from Murrays) bench tested prior to install, and both ran fine...but on the car they crapped out.

bgkast · #15 01-17-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squiggle Dog

I never seem to get to the diesels at Pull-A-Part before the starters are pulled (they are not common to find).

This morning I went to where my car was parked and turned the key. The starter worked this time! The engine stumbled a little bit because I didn't let the glow plugs warm up, but the car ran and I drove it home.

When I got home I tested the starter again, and it fired up like it should! That's weird that it wouldn't start last night. It's not like it could have overheated, because it was less than a 5 minute drive from my house.

I just hope this doesn't happen again. It worries me that I could be out somewhere and have my car not start.

Maybe the grease in there was cold and thick causing it to stick.