Ford Escort Starter

[asshanson]

Emily's 2001 ZX2 (auto, dohc motor) is having a few starting issues lately. Sometimes the starter will just spin freely and not grab to turn the motor over. Other times it will grab, but sounds pretty sickly while turning over, maybe because it's not grabbing 100% and missing a little.

The original starter went out about 2 years ago, not sure why. It totally died, didn't even try to turn the car over, just click. She had it replaced by a shop out in southwest Iowa, which used a rebuilt starter that failed within a year. Again, died and just clicked. They got it replaced under warranty (didn't have to pay labor, but the price of another starter - $60), again with a rebuilt one, and now a year later it's failing again. I figure I can replace it for a junkyard $15 one that should last at least that long.

I saw something about starter solenoids, is this the thing that pushes the starter in/out to turn the engine over? Or is that more of a relay to get power to it? It seems to spin fine, just has trouble grabbing. This same thing happened in my 2g, but I just replaced the whole thing.

Also, I don't know where I can find info on the escort starter interchange, what other vehicles have the same model that I can find at the u-pull. There is one zx2 in rosemount that for sure would have the same one, but I want to know if other escorts have the same. Does auto vs. manual matter for these cars?