So, I was just about to head to a local "U-pull-it" yard to pull a starter for my 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. I was figuring since it is the 3.1 V-6 motor which is fairly common, it would be no problem to find a starter.
But a little voice in the back of my head said, "not so fast." Thankfully, I listened to that voice and did a quick internet search for said starter. Turns out our buddies at General Motors had quite a bit of fun switching starters between years on the 3.1 V-6.
Witness - If I use a "Bestest" starter as an example, my '95 takes starter #03-0529X. This same starter can also be used on a '94-95 Buick Century or a '91-93 Buick Regal or a '91-95 Pontiac Trans Sport.
However, if I happened to have a 1996 Oldsmobile 3.1, it uses the "Bestest" 6473BX starter. This can also be used on any Olds made from '96-98 or any number of Buick models made in those same years.
Why the difference? What is it about the 1995 Oldsmobile 3.1 that is different from the 1996 Oldsmobile 3.1 that would hinder me from swapping one to another?
Is the difference minor so that if I did in fact head to the junkyard and pull a starter from a late 90's model 3.1, I could then bring that starter home and easily bolt it onto my 3.1? Or is the difference so radical that I will be forced to either find a '95 3.1 as a donor or (gulp) actually visit the parts store and buy a new starter?
Tomorrow is Saturday and is suppose to be bright and beautiful in these parts - a great day for wrench twisting.
Like the man said to "Dirty Harry" - "I needs to know."
But a little voice in the back of my head said, "not so fast." Thankfully, I listened to that voice and did a quick internet search for said starter. Turns out our buddies at General Motors had quite a bit of fun switching starters between years on the 3.1 V-6.
Witness - If I use a "Bestest" starter as an example, my '95 takes starter #03-0529X. This same starter can also be used on a '94-95 Buick Century or a '91-93 Buick Regal or a '91-95 Pontiac Trans Sport.
However, if I happened to have a 1996 Oldsmobile 3.1, it uses the "Bestest" 6473BX starter. This can also be used on any Olds made from '96-98 or any number of Buick models made in those same years.
Why the difference? What is it about the 1995 Oldsmobile 3.1 that is different from the 1996 Oldsmobile 3.1 that would hinder me from swapping one to another?
Is the difference minor so that if I did in fact head to the junkyard and pull a starter from a late 90's model 3.1, I could then bring that starter home and easily bolt it onto my 3.1? Or is the difference so radical that I will be forced to either find a '95 3.1 as a donor or (gulp) actually visit the parts store and buy a new starter?
Tomorrow is Saturday and is suppose to be bright and beautiful in these parts - a great day for wrench twisting.
Like the man said to "Dirty Harry" - "I needs to know."