Grr.... Starter Frozen to Transmission

[bruceb]

The Dodge forums agree. That stud is frozen in the starter housing.

http://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-ram/187291-replacing-starter.html

 

[JCH13]

Torch the aluminum housing right around the stud, get it REAL toasty. Aluminum expands thermally 2x faster than steel, it should open right up and crack loose.

 

[iamwiz82]

So just a final update on this thread, the bastard motherf$%#ing starter is out... I ended up paying a mobile car mechanic to remove it with the help of a cutting torch and a BFH. It took him two hours, so I feel vindicated that a professional couldnt do it quickly.

It ended up being what I suspected, the steel stud oxidized on the aluminum case of the starter. I had tried the various suggestions here, but my little propane torch wasn't enough. I even managed to lift the front half of the truck with a jack under the starter.

Either way, she starts up amazingly now, huzzah.

 

[skyking]

Dang
Called in the cavalry and it about kicked his ass too!

 

[Viperoni]

Damm, at least it wasn't you

 

[Howard]

I'm considering ripping apart my next car and anti-seizing every god damn thing that isn't welded.

 

[JCH13]

I'm considering ripping apart my next car and anti-seizing every god damn thing that isn't welded.

Amen to that. I've often wished that car companies would offer a "100% stainless fasteners and anti-seize" option for $1-2k on a new car. I would do that in a heartbeat.

OP, is there a way you could have cut the starter housing with a cut-off wheel on a die grinder and pried/wedged it apart around the stud?

 

[Howard]

Amen to that. I've often wished that car companies would offer a "100% stainless fasteners and anti-seize" option for $1-2k on a new car. I would do that in a heartbeat.

OP, is there a way you could have cut the starter housing with a cut-off wheel on a die grinder and pried/wedged it apart around the stud?

No need for the stainless fasteners, just the antiseize would be great.

 

[Eli]

They should come out with aluminum versions of cars. Of course this is probably completely impractical and would be insanely expensive, but it's a fun thought.

It's actually a huge selling point of the Insight for many people...or at the least, a very nice perk. The rust belt does take it's toll on the few steel components there are, but at least the car's chassis doesn't literally rust away around you.

 

[JCH13]

No need for the stainless fasteners, just the antiseize would be great.

Tell that to the bolt heads that have disintegrated inside of a wrench or socket when I try to turn them. There's nothing quite like it.

 

[Bignate603]

Amen to that. I've often wished that car companies would offer a "100% stainless fasteners and anti-seize" option for $1-2k on a new car. I would do that in a heartbeat.

OP, is there a way you could have cut the starter housing with a cut-off wheel on a die grinder and pried/wedged it apart around the stud?

I'm not sure stainless steel would have helped. The aluminum starter and steel housing probably didn't oxidize, when you have two dissimilar metals they can chemically bond to each other. Over time they'll quite literally become physically connected.

I had it happen on a jeep that had aluminum rims, one wheel bonded to the lug nuts. The mechanic eventually had to undo the c-clip in the axle, pull the wheel off the jeep with the axle shaft still attached, then grind off the back of each stud. Once he had the studs off he took a metal spike and a sledge to hammer the studs out the front of the rim.

After everything they tried it took 8 hours to remove one wheel.

 

[SonicIce]

Amen to that. I've often wished that car companies would offer a "100% stainless fasteners and anti-seize" option for $1-2k on a new car. I would do that in a heartbeat.

OP, is there a way you could have cut the starter housing with a cut-off wheel on a die grinder and pried/wedged it apart around the stud?

no, you see, they love the rust. it's part of the planned obsolescence

 

[DaTT]

One bolt and one nut. I'm sure that is all there is, I used my trusty mirror to confirm that, in addition to the shop manual saying there are only two mounting points.

the air chisel has done nothing thus far even with heat. Sigh

6 and 8 are removed. 10 is the nut to hold the cable to the battery.

My bad, I read it wrong. Glad to see it came out though.

 

[iamwiz82]

Amen to that. I've often wished that car companies would offer a "100% stainless fasteners and anti-seize" option for $1-2k on a new car. I would do that in a heartbeat.

OP, is there a way you could have cut the starter housing with a cut-off wheel on a die grinder and pried/wedged it apart around the stud?

Possibly, but that wouldn't have been fun. I paid $80 for sanity's sake, haha.

 

[Squisher]

Damn.

That's quite a galvanic response from something operating at ambient temps. This is something you see more from stuff operating at higher temps.

I wonder if there's a TSB?

 

[Bignate603]

Damn.

That's quite a galvanic response from something operating at ambient temps. This is something you see more from stuff operating at higher temps.

I wonder if there's a TSB?

Happens all the time, especially if you live in a place that salts the roads. Salt water works as an electrolyte and speeds up the process.

 

[iamwiz82]

Damn.

That's quite a galvanic response from something operating at ambient temps. This is something you see more from stuff operating at higher temps.

I wonder if there's a TSB?

The exhaust runs right by the starter, so I assume it cooked. Older vehicles with this transmission had a heat shield, but the new starters have one built in, doesn't protect the stud though.

 

[Howard]

Tell that to the bolt heads that have disintegrated inside of a wrench or socket when I try to turn them. There's nothing quite like it.

Sucks to be you, I guess. I've never had that happen to me, fortunately, even though I live in an area that uses lots of salt.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

dissimilar metals....when will we learn?

 

[SuperSix]

A coating of disc brake caliper grease would stop that..

 

[AMCRambler]

Congratulations on your victory. Would have felt even better if you'd been able to get it yourself but sometimes its all about having the right tools.

 

[iamwiz82]

Congratulations on your victory. Would have felt even better if you'd been able to get it yourself but sometimes its all about having the right tools.

This is the first time in 12 years I have used a mechanic, sigh.