Where do you guys get your starter motor brush sets? What part #?. My car wont start when its damp out, has been doing this for over a year now and getting worse. I don't want to buy a new starter if I don't have too.

Have you tried to find them yet - NAPA, Advanced, etc?

 

If you take your motor/brushes into an automotive electrical shop they're likely to have something that will work on hand. But of course that means down time which you're probably not interested in?

 

I don't do this to my own stuff, but since it looks like you're into saving a few bucks - you can take them apart, clean them up and reassemble them, that is sure to take care of the problem. I've done it before to help folks out, might last 1 month - or 10 years The insides of electrical motors are typically very dirty.

It could just be the starter solenoid contacts. Cheap and easy to fix. Search the forum for similar problems.

Have you tried to find them yet - NAPA, Advanced, etc?

 

If you take your motor/brushes into an automotive electrical shop they're likely to have something that will work on hand. But of course that means down time which you're probably not interested in?

 

I don't do this to my own stuff, but since it looks like you're into saving a few bucks - you can take them apart, clean them up and reassemble them, that is sure to take care of the problem. I've done it before to help folks out, might last 1 month - or 10 years The insides of electrical motors are typically very dirty.

 

I have tried AZ and Napa, no luck.

 

I'm going have to take it out of the car and clean it. I have the 01 OBW VDC to drive, but don't have snow tires on it, like I do the 97. It gets a little worrisome when you have to turn the key on/off 20 times before it starts.

 

Isn't contacts and brushes the same?, or am I missing something.

check this out:

 

http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/densoparts.html

 

I suspect that Subaru starters are made by Denso, but I don't know that for sure.

Edited December 20, 200916 yr by J A Blazer
clarify

Isn't contacts and brushes the same?, or am I missing something.

 

 

brushes are in the motor itself and are used to condut eletricity? to the armature, the rotating part of the motor. this not the usual fail point of subaru starters.

 

the contacts are in the solenoid and they conduct the electricity that casuses the starter motor gear to engage the flywheel and completes the connection for the starter motor. they are a fairly common fail point.

 

search for starter contacts or the like and you will find plenty to read. the solenoid is mounted on the starter and this is a pretty easy fix i'm told. the hard part is removing the starter. not really hard, but there are hoses in the way and the lower bolt/nut is hard to reach, especially from above.

 

oh yeah, the socket sizes are different for the top and bottom, one is a 17 i think.

 

call the parts stores again and ask for starter solenoid contacts, you may have better luck.

Find an alt & starter rebuilder and they will sell you the contacts cheap.

You have to tell them the exact make an model of starter or better bring them the old ones...if you have another mean of transport that is.

 

Anybody on the east coast of the U.S.A. playing in the snow with their subies?

They are all over ebay - Honda and Toyota both sell them at the dealership for pretty cheap.

 

Frankly though, I just take them apart, clean them up with a file, and reuse them (the contacts, not the brushes). I haven't found a worn out set of brushes yet. You can clean the commutator with a pencil erasor.

 

Make sure that's your problem first though - jumper the connection from the solenoid to the positive terminal and see if your problem still exists. Often it's battery cables or the ignition switch circuit.

 

GD

Well after spending the Xmas Holiday week in the hospital with my 78 year old mother, I finally got around today to remove the starter and clean the contacts. So far so good, as it is starting without problems. However the contacts and plunger were very worn and pitted. I found this web site:http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/densoparts.html, I think I will order the repair kit that includes the plunger.