[DeTomaso] DB electric starter bites the dust

[Julian Kift]

This is a PMGR starter, one of the benefits over a standard starter being the gear reduction (usually in the order of 4.5:1) reducing current draw.

 

I'm skeptical that a previously endorsed product (now seemingly quite widely used in Pantera's) is suddenly so bad, unless DB is sourcing from a different supplier. You have now eaten 3 starters, so what else has changed to cause the first (4 years is not a long or acceptable service life) and subsequent replacements to go out? Yes a higher quality, higher dollar starter may overcome your problem, but will you actually tackle the route cause of the problem? If you don't get to the route cause then any solution is only temporary.

 

Have you checked simple stuff like voltage at the starter, ground continuity etc.?

 

Julian
 

> From: JDeRyke at aol.com
> Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 03:13:09 -0400
> To: boyd411 at gmail.com; detomaso at poca.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] DB electric starter bites the dust
> 
> In a message dated 7/21/13 5:25:42 PM, boyd411 at gmail.com writes:
> 
> > Does anyone know of a problem that can be wiping out solenoids
> > 
> A solenoid is a simple electromechanical device. Not much can go wrong with 
> it, with so few parts. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, some foreign made 
> solenoids have the main contacts in back insulated with a thermoplastic block. 
> Your high compression engine may pull 300 AMPS of current momentarily, 
> which creates a LOT of heat. Eventually, the thermoplastic softens enough for 
> the contacts to sink into them, so they no longer make contact
> OEM starters use a thermoset material to insulate & mount solenoid 
> contacts. Thermosets do not melt in high heat- they char. I've 'fixed' a couple of 
> cheap foreign starters by using salvaged solenoid contact plates in 
> nearly-new solenoid bodies. Pull the solenoid apart and see if there's any evidence 
> the contacts have sunk into the plastic insulator so they no longer touch. 
> Buying another of what already failed, and expecting it to behave differently 
> is one definition of insanity. Good luck- J Deryke
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