that sucks a couple years ago they were suppose to be gtg for starters atleast.

 

Hard to say. Some people say they have problems with them, I personally have had no problems at all with mine. I installed mine April 1st 2008 so its a little over 2 years old now. No problems at all.

As for warranty it has a 1 year warranty. If its past that point then its time to buy another starter when it fails. You have to decide if it got far enough past that 1 year warranty or not.

Also why did you buy 2 truck starters as your sig shows 1 truck and 1 car.

 

One was for other work truck..

 

The only thing Ive run into that kills any starter that Ive ever had is mud. I dont mean the think stuff I mean water with dirt in it aka the stuff in mud holes. When that gets in a starter its a death sentence for it eventually.

The db starters are not some magic pill its a nipon denso or a clone of one with an electric motor and a gear reduction box. You can get one elsewhere but its around $400+ dollars for it. With the price from db being $135 or something with cheap shipping its around 1/4 of the price of the other so you need to go thru 4 of them to equal the price of the other. But with that said if its failing every year its not worth buying I guess.

Though like I said mines over 2 years old and cranks great. I offroad with my truck but I havent filled the starter with mud either so maybe thats why its lasting. No clue.

If hitting it makes it work as in it doesnt even click till you hit it you either have a bad solenoid not the starter itself or a ground issue.

 

It was being sluggish.but starting..then cranked but not enough to start, so little hammer....started for a little while, couple more hammers, and then just nothing now....same way the other one went..

 

You sure its not your batteries? My optima batteries did that and I put in a new set of batteries and its back spinning full speed. Thats with db starter I have.

Being gear reduction it doesnt behave like a normal starter when the batteries are weak. Sure it makes starting the truck hard or impossible but it acts more like the starters dragging than the batteries are weak when in fact its the batteries.

Not saying thats for sure your problem just a sugestion.

 

You sure its not your batteries? My optima batteries did that and I put in a new set of batteries and its back spinning full speed. Thats with db starter I have.

Being gear reduction it doesnt behave like a normal starter when the batteries are weak. Sure it makes starting the truck hard or impossible but it acts more like the starters dragging than the batteries are weak when in fact its the batteries.

Not saying thats for sure your problem just a sugestion.

That is VERY true. I had a similar problem that turned out to be batteries - not the starter.

Sam

 

I would disagree with your opinion. If the warranty is 1 year - the warranty is 1 year. If they choose to extend it past that point, that is up to them. If you don't like it, go buy a cheap chinese crap that you have to swap every 2-3 months - but has a limited lifetime warranty.

I have their starter on the truck along with their alternator. I have had 7 of their high amp alternators on my various vehicles. I have only ever had a problem with 1. I emailed them and called them as instructed. They had me ship the alternator to them, diagnosed the problem, and told me the cost to repair as it was just out of warranty. I called and talked to them professionally and courteously - and guess what? They repaired it for free.

Sometimes when you act like a dick - you get what you deserve...

Sam

 

If you don't like it, go buy a cheap chinese crap that you have to swap every 2-3 months - but has a limited lifetime warranty.

You mean instead of buying cheap Chinese crap that only has a year warranty from DB?

 

Mine was also starting slow and I called them up without much luck. I pulled it off and threw it in the scrap pile. Pry wont buy another starter from them. I would rather pay the money to get something that is going to work right in the first place.

 

Seems like we started hearing about this a year or so ago. As mentioned, DB used to be the place to get starters / alternators. The guys there were top notch and always helpful. Seems like they changed to Chinese crap and peoples opinions of their products have been less than stellar recently.

 

I grabbed a HO 250 amp alternator from them off ebay about 2 years ago and so far so good. But as my luck goes, i'll get my truck put back together and that'll crap out as well! ha!

 

I've done business with DB in the past... no issues.

 

Left a nasty message and a nasty email...got an email back to call so and so at this number....

I called and talked to them professionally and courteously - and guess what? They repaired it for free.

Sometimes when you act like a dick - you get what you deserve...

Sam

That is probably what happened. I have had good luck with DB

 

Well we've seen it all before haven't we? Company A has good customer servide, great products and reasonable prices, time goes their product gets popular management thinks well what the hey we can probably make more money if we can lower production cost! The result is usually what we se now.

I was planning on buying a new starter and alt from them, but it seems I'll have to look elswhere unless this is just a localized phenomenon.

 

If I need an alt or starter I will be buying from db again personally.

Mines done great so until I have a bad experience personally I'll get buying from them.

 

I have never had a single problem with the customer service at DB. I will definentally continue to use them. Sure a genuine Denso stater is a better product then the DB but it is also about 4 times the price.

 

I bought a DB electrical alternator and the outer casing had cracked within 8 months. I called them and they replaced it. The replacement only lasted 1 1/2 years and crapped out. I went to my local starter alternator rebuilding shop and bought a new alternator and it just so happens to be the exact same manufacturer of the one DB sent me the second go round. Since DB or the rebuilding shop did not ask for a core I dropped one of my bad ones off at the rebuilding shop to get rebuilt so now I have a backup.

 

Personally, I have been less than satisfied with DB's products and service.

To date I've purchased three alternators and a starter from them, and I've had issues with all three alternators.

The first alternator crapped out after two and a half years. I figured no big deal, and purchased a new one from them, as the broken one was out of warranty. At the same time, I also purchased a spare to have on hand in case I had another issue.

The voltage regulator in the second DB alternator died right at 13 months. I contacted DB and paid them to fix the voltage regulator.

Fortunately, or so I thought, I had the spare alt. I took it out of the box, and installed it only to find that it didn't work (another bad voltage reg). I called DB and told them that my NIB alt did not work. They told me that even though it had never been used, it was out of warranty, and that I would have to pay to have it repaired.

So, I suppose there are two ways to look at this. One way is: I guess I should have checked the spare alt when it originally showed up to make sure it worked. But, on the other hand: I think a bad voltage reg would have been evident to the guys at DB before it was ever sold. To me this screams a lack of quality control on their part. So, it is very disappointing that they would not stand behind their product. Afterall, I think every sponsor on this site would stand behind a NIB product even if it was out of waranty.

Anyways, I've had enough problems with DB Electrical, and will never purchase anything from them again.

 

All of there products come from CHINA. Thats why it's so cheap.

 

And so is just about any product now. I'm buying one tomorrow because mine is starting to take a crap on me, hopefully I have the same luck as crowz

 

great experience with em here

 

My thoughts.
My starter took a dump on me in O'Reilly's parking lot (pretty good luck, huh). Bought an O'Reilly's rebuilt starter, the guy load tested it for me before install. Pulled two out, took the strongest one. Been on my truck for around 75K now, still going strong.

Water pump went out. Replaced with O'Reillys rebuilt water pump. Been on my truck working good for about 50K now.

Alternator went out. Limped to O'Reilly's. Bought a rebuilt unit, installed and load tested in the parking lot, it was weak. Installed and tested another one, good and strong. Been on my truck for about 50K.

All of these parts are lifetime warranty. If one breaks, I take it to O'Reillys, swap it for a new one, no questions asked. I am back on the road in the same day.
If you buy a simple part from the best shop, with the best customer service, but they have to ship it to you. You are sown for at least two days, probably more.
I don't know about you, but I need my truck running. A day down, put me and people that depend on me in a bad situation.

 

I've installed around 12 DB gear reduction starters and 1 alternator over the past ~3 years.

I've only had to send one starter back, and that was because the truck's owner was holding the key on start after the motor fired up, and he tore up the starter gear and his flexplate. DB sent me another starter no questions asked.

I know what it's like to be on both ends of the phone when calling for warranty on a part. You get alot further if you're courteous and ask for something to be done. Demanding will get you nowhere fast.

Dave

 

I always take mine to a local rebuilder, who does great work. Normally in and out in 1hour. I have never had to take a single thing back to him for repair. Price just doesn't even compare to replaceing them. Guess I'm lucky to have one close.

 

Hmm thats strange I cant find my starter on there anywhere. All of those look like the junk autozone sells.

Heres what I bought :

Its the black and grey one

 

yeah, I know, I looked on the site a few months ago I think, and I saw the nice ones and now they don't look too great

 

O'Reillys sells the gear reduction starter. Aljay knows what to order from there.