I am a serial starter killer

I have certainly had my electrical issues this later part of the winter. In the last two months I have killed 2 starters and it appears the third is dying on me. OK, This may be due to the starters being cheap, lifetime waranty starters from Advance auto remade by Worldwide. The second one went for a different reason but is there another issues going on in my engine bay that could be damaging the starter? Based on an earlier thread here it appears my 2 year old autozone Fiesta Alt is dying but I can accept that and I have the new one at my house.

So, bad luck or a sneaky electrical gremlin?

time for a cat scan.

let your cat investigate.<G>

(I bought a used hi-torque thing a couple years ago from a board member ansd it works better than any car I have. distinctly non-british. give hap a call<G>)

Poor connections will allow voltage to flow, but high current draws at low voltage. Generally it is the weakest link that gives out first, but overheating can occur to any peripherals.

I know the connections are in good shape. They have been redone more than once and I am getting no drop from front to battery. I may yet get a high torque model. I may also go over to the barn o' parts and get one of starters in that pile.

Carl,
Did you see this download (PDF) on Lucas electrical fault diagnosis on the boards the other day? http://www.vitessesteve.co.uk/Lucas%20Stuff/Lucas%20Stuff%201.htm It might be of help.

I just bought a new starter from Northwest Import Parts, http://www.northwestimportparts.com/ for about $150 which appears the same as offered by Moss for 68-80 Bs for about $225, if you need a new one.

As for the Fiesta Bosch units, I have had very good luck with mine which is was rebuilt by Autolite (they rebuild lots of different alternators besides their own). It was not cheap even when I bought mine, but it came with a real Lifetime Warranty, and so far, I have not had to use it. Autolite rebuilts might be worth looking for in your area. I got mine from the Schuck's/Kragen/Checker auto chain (don't know if they have them in your area), but you might be able get them thru their online store, Parts America, http://www.partsamerica.com/Default.aspx . Good luck!

SOme of the old Lucas units had aluminum cores and were very prone to failure. Is yours copper or aluminum windings?

It is a Bosch made alt for a Ford Fiesta.

that doesnt surprise me with advance auto starters they are junk........i would not buy anything electrical from them ie starters, alt, fuel pumps......they are all second rate we have even had some that wouldnt work right out of the box, had one car we went through 4 alternators in one day before we got one that worked........we learned our lesson the hard way at the shop, one of the reasons we dont do business with them anymore

Jimmy is onto something there Carl. A bad ground strap or connections would do the same as bad positive currrent flow.