What starters fit a 1991 318 v8?

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d250

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I went to several junk yards looking for a starter for my 91 d250 318 and they all say they don't have it and they say "it's the old style" I don't what they mean I thought any starter from a 318 to a 440 was the same. They had a few 360 2nd gen rams but I was told they wouldn't fit. Anyone know about starters?


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crazzywolfie

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what is wrong with your current starter? if you got the factory style starter for your truck they are usually fairly easy to repair. usually the 1 contact in the solenoid wears out causing the starter to be hard to start or not start at all.
on my spare starter i used a rubber washer to shim the contact. as you can see it was almost worn down to nothing.
PhHstZE0mz_DMLX6bP0dNrEJMVmaYS-BDr4o9=w851-h638-no.jpg

from 88 on they switch to a smaller starter. you can still run the older style starter which are pretty much indestructible and rarely wear out but they are heavier and more of a pain in the ass to install or swap out. you can take the starter off a 2nd gen but make sure you grab the connector and as much of the starter wire as possible. a 2nd gen starter should be similar to what is one your truck except for some of the really new 2nd gens had plug in connectors on the starter. if you can get one off a 91-98 ram truck or van it would be the one that works best. i think you might need to swap over the little adapter from your old one to the new but it just bolts onto the terminals. also shouldn't matter whether it is a v6 or v8. they both use the same starters

starter off a 87 and older on the left 89 in the middle and 91 to the right
IjStL9O4SmgFOYtn6v_AcYlhkMYtNiEELhBV=w1135-h638-no.jpg
 
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d250

d250

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Well the starters been giving me problems for over 6 months now. I turn the key over 20-100 times and just hear clicks but then it finally turns over and starts. On Thursday I went to start it and the ignition lock cylinder broke so I fixed that for $20. It got worn out from all the abuse it's been taking. I'm planning on taking the starter out tomorrow and probably buy a remanufactured one.



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crazzywolfie

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before getting a re manufactured 1 i would pull the solenoid cover and take a look. if it is like the one i posted a pic of you could probably temporarily fix it for $1. also if you are not in a rush you may want to consider just buying a new one. you can get a new one at rockauto fairly cheap
 
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d250

d250

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I'll see when I take it off I'm guessing that the starter isn't that bad since once it spins over it's fine. But it just takes a lot of clicks lol.
Oh and the starter on it is remanufactured it was probably put on years ago.


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crazzywolfie

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that click you hear is the solenoid. the solenoid both powers the starter motor and pushes the starter motor gear into place. if the contact is worn out then the motor is likely not getting power when you turn the key
 
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d250

d250

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It's a click when the key it turned all that way it's not a fast click it's slow like the starter is jammed.


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crazzywolfie

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i guess you just need to take it apart and see. they are pretty simple to rebuild which is why i like them and they are usually pretty reliable other than that 1 contact. i have pulled apart a few starters and that 1 contact is always more worn than the other. the other contact usually looks nearly new in every starter i have taken apart.
 
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d250

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So what's the best way to fix this?


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crazzywolfie

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i guess it depends on what the price of a new starter solenoid contact is at the parts store. rockauto has the kit for about $14 plus shipping. DORMAN 02349. you could also possibly use a rubber washer like i did with my spare starter. i am cheap enough that i would probably use the rubber washer and get a bit more life out of the contact that is there.
 
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d250

d250

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Ok sounds good I'll see what I can do tomorrow thanks


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crazzywolfie

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ya. that is exactly how simple it is. it will likely take more time to take the starter off the truck than it will to fix it. just make sure to wire bush or wire wheel the terminals and spray them with penitrating oil if they look rusty or rough like they do sometimes.
 
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d250

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Ok I took the starter off and opened it up here are some pictures

d1171efb2443c8b587c019de28326524.jpg0708d3d41548ea2e276b6cb6443af783.jpg


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crazzywolfie

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that contact looks pretty chewed up and lots of debris in there. how did the contact on the plunger look? you could try cleaning that up and putting is back together to see if it works any better.
 
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d250

d250

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The plunger barely contacted it


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d250

d250

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