Dead Starter @ 110k mi.

It happened this morning. getting in the truck to go to work, turn the key and nothing. nothing but one single load click every time i turned the key. i looked it up online and all signs point to a dead starter. This is a bit disappointing considering i barely hit 110k miles. is this normal? I drive a 2010 2.7 MT.

 

110k miles is quite a few starts, I would start with checking the battery connections and see if a jump start will work. Starters are relatively cheap and yours is 6 years old. It's a little early but it can happen.

 

I'm assuming you've already ruled out the battery in some simple testing?

 

Try to jump it and slightly hit the started with a hammer and see if it works, if not get a new one for under $100

 

My original battery died about 3 years into owning the truck. I replaced it sometime in 2013 with an Optima Redtop. up until the starter issue began happening a few days ago, the truck would fire up on 3 cranks even on the coldest days. I dont think its the battery. I tap on the starter with a hammer and it seems to work after that. Thats why i've narrowed it down to the starter.

 

The interesting thing about all things mechanical or electrical, they can last forever or fail the first time they're used. Everyone else is somewhere in the middle.

 

Its funny how that works, the truck gave me no starting issues today. I decided to dropped about 750 new tires so im not trying to spend another 300 for a starter. I think i might just order the starter rebuild kit for $35 and spend a weekend getting it fixed.

 

Ya, it's always a surprise. I haven't had a starter go out in probably 20 years except for one about 2 years ago in my grand cherokee. No warning, drove to work just fine, tried to go to lunch and not even a click. Less than 100k on it iirc.

I have a '58 willys cj5 that has I believe all original parts on it. Still cranks strong.

 

+1 for hammer fix. Happened on my dads Tahoe. Gave it a couple taps....didn't work....gave it a solid smack. Still starts 65k miles later.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgGWQ02GtEk

I cleaned the contacts on my old starter like in the guy's video and got a couple more years of life out of it