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suggestions for a quallity starter

Tom Clark

Tom Clark

New member
Joined
Sep 11, 2009
Location
Albany, OR
about a year ago the starter went out on the 91,940 wagon, i went down to napa auto parts and bought a rebuilt unit and replaced it, it took 3 of these things before i got one to last more than 5 days! now i have one of those starters in and it has been working fine for about 10-11 months. recently the starter started making some pretty bad noises while cranking:grrr:

my question is this: what is a quality decent price starter for a 1991 940 turbo?
i have a feeling this thing isn't going to last much longer

thanks for your input
 
Check the yards for a Volvo reman or Bosch reman unit. The majority of the aftermarket stuff is crap.

Another option is see if you can find a local shop that does rebuilds on-site. There's a place near me that will do an alternator for right around $100, with new expendables and bearings, and a thorough inspection. Never had ANY issues with their work, it's done in house, 2-day turnaround, and decent parts, instead of chinese junk.
 
Tom see if you can scare up one of the late model 'gear reduction' starters. They do much better then the early style.

As others have pointed out... Too many electrical 'remans' from Schucks/Napa/CarQuest ect are junk.

I'd install a used gear reduction starter before buying another of those fine rebuilds. :roll:
 
I always take my starters & alts to a good S & A rebuild shop. There's a very good one here in Burlington I deal with. Cost about the same or less than A/Z or other rebuilt, but is a much better rebuild job, IME.

Always been best for me, & I have had great success doing this.
 
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I just recently got an alternator rebuilt at a local auto electric store. It only cost me $65 compared to a rebuilt from O'Reillys for nearly $150. If you have an old Bosch laying around take it to an auto electric store and get it rebuilt. They will probably do a better job with better parts.
 
i agree. go get it rebuilt at a local alternator/starter shop. Here in greenville deans alternators rebuilt mine and havent had a problem in ever
 
Yep, you can get one rebilt at A & S shop for 60-125 bux depending on what it needs to be right. I have mine completely rebuilt with quality parts so usually 125 for me.
 
I would rather pull an old one from the yard than trust a rebuild from checkers or the boys---- absolute crap.
 
jerryc said:
I am unfamiliar with these; what's the story please?
Click to expand...

Late model redblocks got a gear reduction starter..... Weighs less and is more reliable then the starter used in all other redblocks since what..... was it 1963?

Bolts right in.

When I get over to the shop this morning I'll see if I can scare up a part number for you.
 
JohnLane said:
Late model redblocks got a gear reduction starter..... Weighs less and is more reliable then the starter used in all other redblocks since what..... was it 1963?

Bolts right in.

When I get over to the shop this morning I'll see if I can scare up a part number for you.
Click to expand...

I have one like that as an upgrade on my B20, perfect, much better in winter too..!
 
I have had both on my Volvos. 79 245 has big one, 91 244 has newer version that's lighter.

I've had the 91's rebuilt. The 79's still AOK.

IMO advantage of newer style is weight.
 
get a hitachi starter from a 16valve. smaller lighter if you can find one at the junk yard. Napa is garbage guaranteed to be busted right out of the box.

spent hundreds on reman starters that kept schitting out until I got a junk yard one and its been fine for years
 
Tom Clark said:
my question is this: what is a quality decent price starter for a 1991 940 turbo?
i have a feeling this thing isn't going to last much longer
Click to expand...

Get one from the junkyard, install new brushes (if they're worn), and it should last decades.
 
I have had very good luck with rebuilt alternators and starters from Autozone. The starter in my high compression small block El Camino has lasted over 12 years and still sounds perfect. None of the other rebuilders replace the field coils. Autozone does, they replace the bushings too.

Starters are very easy to rebuild yourself if you have access to a lathe to turn down the commutator. Most rebuilders don't replace the bushings at the ends of the armature unless they are completely worn out. If you rebuild your own, be sure to replace the bushings and lube them with a tiny dab of synthetic grease.
 
When I went to get a starter for my '84 242 GLT I just asked for the starter for an '87 240 (permanent magnet). It bolts right in, weighs less and lasts longer. But next time I will probably get it rebuilt at the auto electric shop. Hopefully that won't be for a while. The last one that I got from Checker took a dump after only two months. They replaced it for free since it was under warranty and it's working fine right now. It cost me somewhere around $120. I have no idea how much one would cost straight from Volvo either.
 
OEM Volvo was close to 300 bux IIRCC. I called & asked just to see, when mine went out.
 
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