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And therein lies the problem. Dishonest shops..... I had one shop claim they couldn't give me back my car, until it was repaired, as it was 'unsafe'.... (brakes were kinda worn) I wasn't going to pay them 500 bucks for a job I could do for 50..... (took it in for a tuneup, as I recall..... they did the "inspection" on their own.) I asked them if they would like to talk to my lawyer.... they hemmed and hawwed for a few minutes, then let me pay the bill, and take my car. Got it home, pulled the wheels, brakes were about 75%.... I took pictures of the brakes, the bill, and especially the note on it about the brakes being 'unsafe'..... Showed it to the guy that owned the shop.... He had nothing to say. Gave it to the local newspaper. They wrote an article. The shop went out of business a couple months later.
Unfortunately, that story is the exception, not the rule. Most folks AREN'T mechanics, (or as pig headed as I am....) so, they just accept what they are told, and pay the bill. For mandatory inspections/emissions testing, they REALLY have you over a barrel... and far too many take serious advantage of that.
Good story!
Something is wrong when a shop has your car on their rack and hold your inspection papers in their hand dealing with people that have no idea how to tell if their cars have "problems".
The new Remy starter showed up. Pulled the new DENSO and put in the Remy. All appears to be well. So either the DENSO was a lemon or I didn't install it correctly (I never underestimate my ability to screw up the installation...ESPECIALLY now that I'm getting up there in the years).
Here's the deal. I put the DENSO starter and Remy starter next to each other on my workbench. There isn't a pubic hair's difference between the two. In fact, the paperwork inside the Remy box used the DENSO part number. It's a DENSO starter that Remy rebadged. I'm kind of guessing DENSO is the only company that makes this specific starter and any other brand is nothing more than a rebadge. I believe this starter is used on some GM and/or Ford models in addition to Mopar.
And finally, my truck has started the first time ever since I swapped starters. Prior to that, more often than not (lately), it was taking multiple attempts to start the truck. So hopefully I fixed the problem I set out to fix.
Thanks HY for your guidance, once again. As usual, you provide solid advice. I'm glad I put in another new starter.
In each photo below, the DENSO is on the left. The Remy is on the right.
I don't think it was an installation problem though. It's really hard to screw up two bolts that go in parallel to the starter.
You're right. Pretty hard to screw up that installation. But then a few years ago I cleaned my throttle body and put the gasket on backwards. Not that it wasn't anything anyone else wouldn't have done but I checked it three times before putting it on to be sure it was oriented correctly. Made no matter. I still put in on backwards. I had about a 2000 RPM idle. Yikes!
So I have this one 5/8" combination wrench. No idea what brand it is. No idea where it came from. Just says Made in USA on it. Had it for decades. It's a one off. Have no other wrench that looks anything like it. It's kinda thick. Has been beaten up cuz it's got a bit of a wave in it. It's the only wrench (or tool for that matter) that I could get on that top starter bolt. My Craftsman 5/8" combo wrench is too long and wont fit in that tiny space. No ratchet with any combination of extensions or swivels come anywhere close to working. That one orphaned wrench saved my bacon.
Try doing spark plugs on a ford windstar with a v-6..... You can't see them, you can't touch them, you almost have to drop the cradle to change 'em. I hated those things.
Try doing spark plugs on a ford windstar with a v-6..... You can't see them, you can't touch them, you almost have to drop the cradle to change 'em. I hated those things.
That’s how a lot of those modern V6s are. They sit sideways and you can’t get to the back plugs without tearing a bunch of crap out first. Thank God for iridium plugs?
I had about a 2000 RPM idle. Yikes!