85blueox Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 The starter on my 85 F350 diesel has decided to give up the ghost. I have removed dozens of starters but this one is not happy. It has 2 little wimpy 1/2" bolts for that huge starter that look like they want to strip off. I assume more bolts are hiding behind but I cant see any. Then is it better to buy a new or rebuild? It was made by Mitsubishi and not sure if it is even the original. any help would be good, Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 There are only two bolts. One at the bottom and one at the top. And the best starter is a newer permanent magnet gear-reduction unit, called PMGR for short. Ford went to them in the 90's on all the engines. You can see a discussion of them on our page at Documentation/Electrical/PMGR Starter Wiring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85blueox Posted July 26, 2023 Author Share Posted July 26, 2023 There are only two bolts. One at the bottom and one at the top. And the best starter is a newer permanent magnet gear-reduction unit, called PMGR for short. Ford went to them in the 90's on all the engines. You can see a discussion of them on our page at Documentation/Electrical/PMGR Starter Wiring. OK, thanks Gary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85blueox Posted July 26, 2023 Author Share Posted July 26, 2023 OK, thanks Gary. I guess I should check the solenoid, It clicks once whe starting and the batteries are both good. How do do you check the solenoid? Usually on my newer trucks I just replace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted July 26, 2023 Share Posted July 26, 2023 I guess I should check the solenoid, It clicks once whe starting and the batteries are both good. How do do you check the solenoid? Usually on my newer trucks I just replace it. Put a voltmeter's positive lead on the starter relay's (solenoid) rear stud, the one that goes down to the starter, and the ground on the battery's ground lug. Turn the key to Start and read the voltage. If it is battery voltage then the relay works and either the cable or the starter is bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85blueox Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 Put a voltmeter's positive lead on the starter relay's (solenoid) rear stud, the one that goes down to the starter, and the ground on the battery's ground lug. Turn the key to Start and read the voltage. If it is battery voltage then the relay works and either the cable or the starter is bad. Where is a good place to buy those type of starters? The article on motortrend says Rock auto but none of the starters says they are that type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted August 3, 2023 Share Posted August 3, 2023 Where is a good place to buy those type of starters? The article on motortrend says Rock auto but none of the starters says they are that type. The supplier's don't say that theirs is a PMGR starter. You just need to find one for a truck that came from Ford with one. Mid-90's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85blueox Posted August 5, 2023 Author Share Posted August 5, 2023 The supplier's don't say that theirs is a PMGR starter. You just need to find one for a truck that came from Ford with one. Mid-90's. Mid 90s? like post 1993? Having a hard time finding one, not sure if they fit or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 Mid 90s? like post 1993? Having a hard time finding one, not sure if they fit or not. AFAIK the diesel engines have always used a PMGR starter because of the high compression in those engines. I do believe the 6.9 & 7.3 take the same starter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85blueox Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 AFAIK the diesel engines have always used a PMGR starter because of the high compression in those engines. I do believe the 6.9 & 7.3 take the same starter So if it is an original Ford starter from mid 90s it will be a PMGR, what about these aftermarket ones I see on amazon or rock auto? Any idea on those? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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