Liberty On Sand Problems with Starter

[ffemtreed]

I am an avid surf fisherman who regularly drives on the sand in search of big fish! The Jeep runs great on the sand and I never been stuck (because I don't drive like an idiot on the sand).

I have an 03 Sport 4X4 all stock if that matters at all.(except for the roof rack and hitch)

My problem is with the starter, every couple of months I have to get the starter replaced because it gets loaded with sand. I empty about 2 cups of sand out of the starter everytime is needs to be replaced.

Everytime I get back from the beach I alway rinse the bottom of my jeep for a couple hours with a garden sprinkler (innovative I know). There is tons of sand this cleans out and leaves laying in my driveway for my home owners association to complain about till it rains again!.

Is there anything I can do to prevent the sand from ruining the starter every couple of months. Would any of the skid plates helps? (I don't have any installed) Any help would be very much appreciated. I am really frustrated right now and almost dropped it off on the dealers lot to trade in for an xterra or similar vehicle. I bought the jeep specifically because it was designed for off-road use.

 

[JeepJeepster]

hmm, this is a first for me! How is the sand getting into the starter? The skids probably wouldnt do much besides gather sand on top of them. The front engine skid could help alittle.

Maybe you could make alittle shield that goes around the starter to keep sand out of it.

 

[ffemtreed]

I have no idea how sand is getting into the starter. I thought about wrapping it in foil to see if that would help out. I was hoping this was a common problem that had some sort of universal solution.

 

[2003KJ]

First as well for me....driven on sand quite a few times and never had any issues with sand getting anywhere it shouldn't....

 

[rdonn]

From back in my boating days...

Marine starters are sealed and are expensive for that reason. A popular sub is to take a standard automotive starter and seal it with an automotive silicone sealant, like Permatex. Maybe you could try that on your next replacement starter.

 

[nightowl90028]

I had the same problem ha i just happen to get ready to post something about it. I just got back from the beach about 4 days ago and i took the lib down to the sand the whole 4 days we were there and man did it shoot some sand up. I got home and the thing sounded horrible..took it too the dealer to get a "whats wrong estimate" and he said i would probably need a new starter..He asked me if i took it off road and was like not really but i did take it on the beach and he said thats exactly your problem he said the sand particles are very easily able to get into the starter and the way its set up its like craving sand/mud/dirt particles. He said something he bought for his liberty that prevented the sand since " he must be one of the ones that like to speed on the sand" lol but im going up there today(Saturday so ill get him to tell me exactly what he did to prevent it. hope this helps....ill keep you updated

 

[myjeepwalks]

Hmm sand in the starter? There was a guy somewhere with a similar problem but he was getting sand stuck up in the clutch. Think the skid plate may have been acting like a shovel and throwing sand all up in there. Maybe that's whats causing it?

 

[ffemtreed]

I had the same problem ha i just happen to get ready to post something about it. I just got back from the beach about 4 days ago and i took the lib down to the sand the whole 4 days we were there and man did it shoot some sand up. I got home and the thing sounded horrible..took it too the dealer to get a "whats wrong estimate" and he said i would probably need a new starter..He asked me if i took it off road and was like not really but i did take it on the beach and he said thats exactly your problem he said the sand particles are very easily able to get into the starter and the way its set up its like craving sand/mud/dirt particles. He said something he bought for his liberty that prevented the sand since " he must be one of the ones that like to speed on the sand" lol but im going up there today(Saturday so ill get him to tell me exactly what he did to prevent it. hope this helps....ill keep you updated

I'll be looking for your solution. You weren't driving on AI by any chance where you?

 

[ffemtreed]

Hmm sand in the starter? There was a guy somewhere with a similar problem but he was getting sand stuck up in the clutch. Think the skid plate may have been acting like a shovel and throwing sand all up in there. Maybe that's whats causing it?

Maybe Night Owls, problem might have been the skid plates but my Jeep doesn't have any of the skids plates installed yet.

 

[JeepJeepster]

I believe the problem the guy with the clutch was having was the fact that it had a vent on the bottom of the bell housing that was scooping sand up into his clutch. I believe he said the skid helped but didnt solve his issue. He said he was going to try to make a shield for the bell housing but that was the last I saw of that.

 

[nightowl90028]

I'll be looking for your solution. You weren't driving on AI by any chance where you?

Hmm first off what is AI? lol im a little slow..and i did go back to the dealership the guy said he used this starter protector for his car but its from a different car or something i wasnt following what he was saying i think he was lying out his teeth. He was saying he got a starter protector for a 2007 toyota 4 runner and it somehow worked on the liberty but i dunno.like i said he was probably lying to me since i told him upfront im stil a little behind on how to maintence a car for the most part.. they replaced the starter because he said it was damaged beyond repair nice lil 100.00 but i thought i heard they have a heavy duty starter that is harder to damage..hince the heavy duty..also to answer the other question i have a gas tank skid but thats it no other skids..yet

 

[ffemtreed]

AI = Assateague Island

I know a couple people from Fredricksburg that frequent the island.

 

[nightowl90028]

ohh lol no i was at Colonial Beach for one day and then went to VA beach for the other. What did u end up doing about your starter? did u end up replacing it

 

[ffemtreed]

ohh lol no i was at Colonial Beach for one day and then went to VA beach for the other. What did u end up doing about your starter? did u end up replacing it

Yep I am on my 3rd starter in a little over a year.