22 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHStarter replacement new or re manufactured?
Reported or suspected cause
starter
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that report identifying a cause
1
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Reported cause
I'm guessing the problem is the starter, but tightening bolts is free.
Leading evidence: 'starter' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'starter' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check before you start' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The remanufactured no-name unit I bought from Amazon and installed a few years ago is already crapping out.
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
had already replaced the alternator and I replaced the battery under warranty just after I got the car.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
had already replaced the alternator and I replaced the battery under warranty just after I got the car.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
The belt was changed 3 years ago and I've only put 8k miles on it during that time.
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Suggestion
Another thing to consider when you get in there for your starter is replacing the battery cable that goes from the starter / alternator down along the passenger firewall and connects under the car - it's a known issue to corrode and easy enough to do yourself once you take the plenum etc.
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Suggestion
The alternators are expensive if you go OE, so I took mine to a shop that only rebuilds starters and alternators and they rebuilt my alternator for $100...so now I have a rebuilt alternator, but it's MY original alternator, that came with the car, that was rebuilt...it's worth considering for those who are 'in there' anyway but don't want to replace a perfectly good part when not needed
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
22 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
It sounds exactly like the starter on my daughter's Jetta....just left it like it was until it failed, new starter did the trick.
I suspect that my starter is on its way out. I want to buy the replacement part for when it does die. The Porsche part is unreasonably expensive. The OE Bosch part is much more reasonable. Would you go new or re manufactured?
Starters are simple and easy to repair diy. If you prefer, most Indies will know a reliable ,local Reman place.They will buy all their starters and alternators there .It is a good "warranty" .Let Indie do it?
I think it is the starter because there's a whine after a start and when I searched for it, a bunch of starter threads came back. I'm not sure that mine has ever been replaced and it is an 02 with 88k miles.
Are you sure the noise is coming from the starter and not your SAI? Worth a double check before you start replacing parts.
Here is a link that might be useful:
https://www.renntech.org/forums/topi...n-engine-cold/
Here is a link of the sound:
You Tube
Edit: added link
Edit #2: added another link
That sounds like the bendix not disengaging...another indication of imminent starter death.
On occasion, starter issues for the 996 can be caused or exacerbated by the starter bolts not being tight. If they get loose enough for the starter to sag, it will not engage the flywheel properly and can also stick when disengaging.
I'm guessing the problem is the starter, but tightening bolts is free. Well, if you can describe the process of gaining access to those two bolts as "free."
It sounds exactly like the starter on my daughter's Jetta....just left it like it was until it failed, new starter did the trick. I would replace the starter.
I went with a new Bosch starter on mine last year...works great...
Was doing belts, water pump, pulley, thermostat etc. and thought I would replace the alternator on a preventative basis ('05 / 80k) even though I was not having any issues with it. The alternators are expensive if you go OE, so I took mine to a shop that only rebuilds starters and alternators and they rebuilt my alternator for $100...so now I have a rebuilt alternator, but it's MY original alternator, that came with the car, that was rebuilt...it's worth considering for those who are 'in there' anyway but don't want to replace a perfectly good part when not needed
Another thing to consider when you get in there for your starter is replacing the battery cable that goes from the starter / alternator down along the passenger firewall and connects under the car - it's a known issue to corrode and easy enough to do yourself once you take the plenum etc. out to get at the starter...lots of DIYs for this on the forum and its <$200 part on pelican
I can't see any reason not to use a re-man OE (Bosch/Porsche) starter. It's not like it's a complex machine. New brushes, new bendix gear and spring, and it's basically a new starter. I would NOT use a Chinese one - they don't last, and the re-builders won't even fix them - they're throw away's. If you have a local place you can bring YOUR starter to that's what I'd do. Good Luck
New or remanufactured from Bosch. The remanufactured no-name unit I bought from Amazon and installed a few years ago is already crapping out.
My brand-new Bosch is sitting on the shelf waiting for me to get my act together...
I was having the problem with hot starting - it sounds like the battery is dead. I ran a new cable from the alternator to charging post and it made a difference, but didn't fix the problem. I connected a digital voltmeter and monitored it while I was driving and it never dropped below 13.5 volts - so the battery was fine. The P.O. had already replaced the alternator and I replaced the battery under warranty just after I got the car.
Then I saw a number of posts about how glad people were to replace the starter instead of the y cable (mine has NO corrosion, it looks brand new).
I got a new Bosch starter from Rock Auto - and wow - it spins way faster, even when hot. Bingo.
DIY rebuilding of a starter is literally about an hour..
Best if you have access to a lathe, to turn the armature,
But I've done many with just chucking the thing up in a drill press and a strip of emery paper.
Clean the grooves out between the contact pads after shining up the armature, it needs a hash like a cylinder after honing..
Most alt shops will sell you a brush kit for < 25 and a pair of bushing/bearings for about the same.
Bosche are especially easy because they didn't change the bearing or brush assembly design much.
So they are typically in stock.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
