Do I have the correct starter?

ariff · 09-07-2012, 01:28 PM

About 3 months ago I had to replace the starter. The bushing on the gear had broken off and chewed up by the flywheel. About a month I started having problems with the new starter grinding every once in awhile when trying to start. It has started happening more often. It will finally start after a few attempts. I pulled the new starter and the end of the gear is chipped. I do not see any missing teeth on the ring gear. It makes me wonder if the incorrect starter had been installed on the Jeep. There are a few different types, the older Ford\Motorcraft pre 87 starter. Which happens to be the one I have in there now, I think. And the newer '88-'98 Mitsubishi-style starter that came on 4.0s and 4.2s from those years. It has the proper throw for a CPS flywheel. How can I tell if I have a Crank position tone ring on the Jeep? I can't really see inside there to look for myself. The Jeep has a 4.0L from a 93 Cherokee. However it has no computer or fuel injection. The PO bought a rebuilt 4.0L and never installed EFI. I guess the guy he bought it from never came through on all the EFI parts. So for now it is a carburated 4.0L with HEI. It runs great and an EFI conversion is on my future list of things to do. It ia a struggle troubleshooting this Jeep with all the different parts it has. Nothing is stock ;>) Anyhow here are some pics..

Starter

Ring Gear

redbullrr · 09-07-2012, 01:31 PM

Need a picture of the entire starter to be clear.

ariff · 09-07-2012, 01:43 PM

Sure no problem.. It is the type without the external solenoid. Hope you can tell from this pic..

Starter

Stock Photo

roadyrob · 09-07-2012, 01:56 PM

you need to find out which flywheel you have, the 87 or the one for the 4.0. you need the starter to match.
BUT, even if you have the 87 flywheel that matches the starter in your pics there could be a problem. search for 87 starter and read up.

ariff · 09-07-2012, 02:19 PM

OK I am seeing a lot of info on two different starters for an 87 flywheel.. Is there anyway I can tell if my flywheel is a 87 or newer? Like a part number or something?

ariff · 09-07-2012, 02:52 PM

Another question.. Is there a way to remove the dang inspection cover form an AX-15. It looks like it is all one piece and can not be removed without seperating the trans from the engine. Other vehicles I have worked on the inspection covers were usually split in half so you could remove the lower portion to get inside there to look around.

ariff · 09-07-2012, 05:48 PM

OK I have a little more info on the ring gear. I see a number V1K36 164A on the ring gear. I can't seem to find anything on google about this number. I also counted 162 teeth on the ring gear and 9 teeth on the starter. The teeth on the ring gear were hard to count.. So I may have missed or added one during the process. Any thoughts out there? I have read that making the holes larger on the starter would allow to push pr pull the starter toward or away from the ring gear helping. As well as shimming? Do these starters need shims? Ughh

I also took the best pics I could of the flywheel.. What is the point of the AX-15 having a non-removable inspection plate? If the lower half was removable like it should be I could see the darn serial number in the flywheel...

ariff · 09-08-2012, 11:11 AM

Anyone out there have any ideas for me.. I hope to get this fixed this weekend..
Thanks!

roadyrob · 09-08-2012, 12:13 PM

would have thought someone would have some ideas for you by now. I'm not familiar with the 4.0 but I do know that something on the flywheel triggers the CPS, the 4.2 flywheel doesn't have it.

ariff · 09-08-2012, 12:44 PM

Yeah the CPS tone ring.. However I am new to this as well.. I don't think mine has it. I just hate to put another starter in there and have the same problem. I want to be sure I get the correct starter in there so I don't trash the ring gear. There is already a small amount of wear from this starter grinding on it.

Nerfz · 09-08-2012, 06:41 PM

You have the right starter and flywheel...Maybe you pushed it in to hard against the flywheel? Or maybe just a cheap starter...
All I can tell you is all of your stuff is correct... I would try a different brand of starter and see.
If you go to the part store to buy one ask for an 86 cj7 starter that is the correct one....

ariff · 09-08-2012, 09:09 PM

Well It appears the starter was crap.. I took it back to Advanced where I bought it. Hoping they'd honor their lifetime warranty. They put it on their tester and it failed the Amp load test. As I was watching the starter gear would extend and retract intermittently. I am sure this is what caused the problem. I had them check the part number on a 86 CJ and it was the same as the 87 YJ. So I had the right part. I had them check the new starter before I took it home and it passed. I also replaced the soleniod with a BW lifetime solenoid as well. It sounds and starts much better now. We'll see how long it lasts ;>)
One good thing is the guy helping me out at the parts store was a Jeep guy. He has a CJ5, CJ7, and XJ. So I met a new buddy.. All in all it was a good day.

**Mediceagle** · 09-09-2012, 07:03 AM

I am going through the same process. I went through 4 starters. I pulled the tranny out and went to change the flywheel and they sent the wrong one. The replacement new flywheel will be in tomorrow. I'll let you know how I make out.