Started the truck the other day and when I released the key I could still hear that rather unique "whanging" sound of a Chrysler starter churning away!! Luckily I had the small tool box on the floor and grabbed a pair of vise grips and was able to wrestle the ground cable off of the battery before the battery ran down, or the starter was damaged or shorted out and caught fire ..... which was an extremely good thing, as I was sitting next to the gas pumps at the time!!

Hmmm .... was it a bad Start Relay sticking or bad Starter Solenoid sticking? Well, I got it home and started it a couple of times and the next time it did it I pulled the plug on the Start Relay and it continued to crank, so it must be a Starter Solenoid sticking, but are the contacts welding or the pull-in mechanism not releasing .... Hmmm

So now I am trying to figure my options.

• 1) Reman. starter - the easiest, but least attractive option considering the low level of quality of some of the Remans of various things I've gotten in the past. Are any of the Remans any good? NAPA? etc. Any tips on good sources?
  
  2) Have it rebuilt locally - If i can find a local shop that still does this and is reliable (small town) or source a shop in Indy.
  
  3) Isn't there a newer starter from a Japanese source that fits? I tried to do a search on the forum but didn't come up with anything conclusive.
  
  4) Pull it apart and do a partial rebuild myself, but how do you find quality parts? Won't they be the same crappy parts that go into the Remans?

I may just start with pulling the starter, inspecting it and cleaning/lubing the pull-in mechanism before doing a full tear-down.

What is the correct grease to use in the pull-in/clutch mechanism?
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Here is the style of starter on the truck ($50 Reman):
<img src="http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/additional-prod-images/en/US/dur/DL3257/4/image/4/">

There is a Brush/Solenoid contact piece that is available ($33):
<img src="http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/additional-prod-images/en/US/wl2/CX12H/2/image/4/">

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'81 D150 with "Lean Burn"

NAPA IS A GOOD SOURCE. Just pay the higher price for the better part.
I would shop locally for a rebuilder.Better odds of getting a
good rebuild but it will take time. Asking around for quality.
Even if you buy rebuilt do this for next time. Disk brake wheel bearing grease is what I use. If you do rebop it yourself buy the brush
fixture you pictured. Also GENTLY polish the armature end
before you install brushes. Change the bendix unit [ starter drive].
See if you can get the washer for the armature end.If your first
time at this find a PAL to aid you or you will go NUTS.

my words shadetree

_________________
brass handled wrench,bfh and a BIG screw
driver. If it aint drawn blood you aint done.

Search for "nippondenso starter" or "mini starter" for more info on the modern later style unit.

I went to a salvage yard and asked for a starter for a 98 dodge dakota with the 3.9 v6. I had to work on the solinoid wire contact but that wasn't to bad. I got it for $10 and, I have instant starts most of the time

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85 d-100 HEI 2BBl
06 Toyota Corrola

I have a reman starter for a '93 Dakota with a V6. It's been working fine.
I second the idea of finding a local rebuilder for your starter.

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"Ja, Ich fahre ein altes auto."
'78 Volare 225
'67 Charger 318