Bye Bye Old Starter...

...hello 39MT! I was dealing with the dreaded dead solenoid click for a couple years but couldn't figure it out. Bought a new starter because I knew the one installed was on it's way out.

Well, yesterday after fueling I tried to start the truck and the starter just kept turning but wasn't moving the flywheel. Even with the key off it just kept going. Luckily beating on it with a hammer stopped and it eventually started the truck.

This morning at the crack of dawn before it got hot as Hades out there I dropped the old one and put in the 39MT. Once I had the old one sitting on my tailgate a tiny wire that ran underneath from the solenoid was hanging on by just a couple strands of copper. When I sat it down it just fell off from the connector!

The 39MT is like half the weight. It also turns and cranks so much faster too! It took me two hours but it's much better now. I could probably have it done in about 1.5 hours next time.

 

The weigh difference is huge. The old one is really heavy. I knew it was a ground wire but I couldn't tell how it had an issue until I had it off the truck.

What's the other small wire on the solenoid for? I had to clip it off and crimp a new ring terminal to it. That got attached to the top of the second solenoid on the 39MT. It runs into a harness loom and disappears so I'm wondering what it does. The truck wouldn't start until I had that connected.