I have a 2012 3.7L XLT w about 200k Km. I
had to replace to the starter motor about two years ago, I used a ford part. The motor has to be replaced again, after aprox 40k km.

Is there potentially an underlying issue here? What would cause premature failure of a starter motor?

Any input is appreciated.

cheers

 

Depends on what is wrong with it. If it's the bendix, could be caused by a damaged flywheel or improper installion. It could have been dropped by someone in the supply chain. Poor quality or the problem may not be the starter and could be power or ground issues.

Maybe there's a warranty on it you could investigate.

 

There could be a few reasons why your starter motor might kick the bucket early. First off, make sure all those electrical connections are tight and free from any corrosion. Also, take a look at the flywheel or flexplate to make sure they're in good shape, 'cause any damage there can stress out the starter.
Check out the battery too. If it's not in great shape, it could be putting extra strain on the starter motor. Oh, and don't forget about the replacement part. Sometimes splurging on a higher-grade aftermarket starter can really pay off.

 

Thanks I appreciate the feedback. I realize a bit more context is likely needed/would be helpful for consideration.

Truck:
2012 f150 SuperCrew XLT 4x4
3.7L V6
200k Kms

timeline:
2020 - the truck went through several starters that failed (all were cheaper aftermarket). I am
not sure why this was the case.
2021 - I replaced the starter with a Ford parts supplied starter. Truck has been fine ever since.
Nov 2023 - the truck wouldn’t start, I swapped the battery. My instrument cluster flickering, radio was intermittent. New battery out in and has been fine since.
24 Jan - my wife drove the truck, no issues. Last time it was driven. Since then it’s sat in sub zero temperatures, but nothing extreme or out of the ordinary for my region.
29 Jan 2024 - I tried to start the truck and it wouldn’t not start. I get power to the dash, lights work fine but no start no crank. I put a trickle charger on it and left it for the day. Trickle charger showed full charge, measured voltage at the battery, showed 12.6V. After charging, I tried again, no start. I then tried to jump the battery, again no start no crank.

I can shift gears in truck, I tried starting from both park and neutral.

My code reader isn’t showing any codes, nor am I getting any warning lights other then a low tire pressure. (Known issue, I have a slow leak that I have been meaning to patch)

Ignition switch fuse in passenger side fuse box was good.

I had someone try and start the truck while listening to the starter relay under the hood - I can hear it click - leading me to believe it is good.

I can also hear a click under the truck at the starter (I assume it’s the solenoid). This leads me to believe the PCM/PATs have been verified as good.

I measured volts at the positive terminal on the starter and it measured 9V, I understand it should be slightly less then what’s at the battery so 9V is a bit concerning however i didn’t get a great contact with my leads through all the grime. (I would have cleaned it and checked however it’s -25 and lots of snow down, so that will require some deliberate planning).

I tried to check voltage at the S terminal, however couldn’t get a good read through the grime on the studs.

My plan is to swap the starter. But before I do, other then confirming voltage at the starter with clean terminals. Is there anything I should consider?

Again, any feedback is appreciated.

Cheers,

Mark

 

There is some good info here related to your problem https://www.f150forum.com/f38/no-sta...533883/index3/

 

If your starter motor is acting up, a few things might be behind it. First off, check if there's too much strain on the starter, like a dodgy alternator or a beat-up flywheel. And don't forget to inspect those electrical connections—make sure they're clean and snug. You might want to take a look at the whole starting system just to be sure there aren't any bigger problems going on.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I put a new starter in there tonight and the truck starts fine. I do plan on doing a bit more investigating. I suspect there is underlying issue somewhere and the new starter may be just a temporary fix.