starter replaced?

[biododge1]

I was just kinda curious as to how many have had to replace the starter. Mine wouldn't turn over the car even when boosted-just clicked. Had some corrosion on the batt and positive lead to the starter. The plastic mount for the cable on the starter broke due to rust. This got me thinking, aside from being corroded, I think the lack of use caused the internals of the starter to go bad also. So I'm starting to wonder if a forced use of it a few times a year should be done to keep it from corroding the contact areas inside the starter.
Your thoughts?

[AbCaRed00]

After a google search for 'replace starter' plus the IC site name from results it appears there are a few folks who have replaced the starter, but it doesn't seem all that common. A review of the following IC posts may hopefully be useful:

New life to my Hybrid!
Weird 12V Starter Performance
Compression Test
HELP! - 2000 Insight Won't Start

Basically, as you've identified, check ground straps and connections, plus relays.

Mine starts with the starter in the coldest weather here in Cdn prairies; or if the IMA switch was turned off on the IMA battery.

I hope that helps.

[eal]

Originally Posted by biododge1

I was just kinda curious as to how many have had to replace the starter. Mine wouldn't turn over the car even when boosted-just clicked. Had some corrosion on the batt and positive lead to the starter. The plastic mount for the cable on the starter broke due to rust. This got me thinking, aside from being corroded, I think the lack of use caused the internals of the starter to go bad also. So I'm starting to wonder if a forced use of it a few times a year should be done to keep it from corroding the contact areas inside the starter.
Your thoughts?

I did. The starter case was rusty, held together with some corrosion. Haven't looked at the internals.

But a replacement starter was $80, and seems a lot stronger than what mine was up to the days before failure. (At the time, I was running ICE-only, so it was seeing a workout. Worked fine until it stopped.)

I doubt a few times a year would be enough, though.

In the airplane world, one of the maintenance checklists is to spray a silicon-based lube into the starter. That might help a smidge - but I'd say it's probably just time to replace 'em.