The first two starters were tested and failed. The last one wasn't tested because the people manning the store couldn't figure out how to test it and didn't want to be taught by a customer. I replaced the battery after the second starter died and the cabling appears to be in good condition and didn't have any remarkable corrosion on it.

edit:
Both of the starters I installed lasted just about 30 days each.

 

The electrical ground for the starter motor circuit is made through the armature housing (see diagram in post 2). Check the armature housing and where it touches the engine to see whether anything may be preventing good metal-to-metal contact. Perhaps poor grounding is blowing the motors.

 

he said in the origional post that along with the 2nd starter he replaced the battery.

Best bet would be to have the starter bench tested. When you get your multi-meter, check ignition and also trace back all wires that connect to your starter. Look for breaks, corrosion, places where the insulation has rubbed through (causing a short)

 

Yeah, I missed mention of the battery replacement.

I don't think there is a short in wires leading to the starter because no fuses have been blown and at least two starters have been bad. It's a tricky problem.

 

possibly a bad "batch" of starters? (as in defect in the manufacturing?)

Did the starters smell burnt or hot?

 

When all else leads to a dead end, it is a possibility that must be considered.

 

Many of those chain store "rebuilds" have just been cleaned up and repainted. Absolutely nothing was replaced inside if it worked when it came in to the rebuild shop. Sure they have a lifetime guarantee but how much is your time worth?

There's nothing that can go wrong with the car that will damage the starter, other than having someone hold the key stuck on start and burning it up.

 

if i was you i would take it back to the store complain like mad and demand full refund for that crappy rebuilt starter and spend alittle more money for a BRAND NEW STARTER!
sounds to me like just plain bad luck with crappy rebuilts!!!!!!!!!

 

Chainstores (Advance, AutoZone, O'Reilly, Checker, etc.) all sell remanufactured not rebuilt. There is a difference. Rebuilt is just as you described, remanufactured has everything internally replaced and all that is reused is the casing.

Have you checked the teeth on your flywheel? Maybe that is why you keep ruining the starters. It also could be the solenoid, but unlikely since it is new. A bad batch of starters is also possible, to be sure try a different brand next time.

 

update:

It happened again on Friday. My plan for now is to figure out whether it is the solenoid or the motor that is bad and then decide on the next step. Fortunately this time it died in front of my house so I can spend a little more time on it. My question is what kind of multi meter/volt meter/ohmmeter should I look to get. I have sufficient capital to buy a decent set of tools I just haven't ever done any electrical work on my cars so I am not sure what is best for the auto. Another question, would investing in something better than the simple obd scanner I have possibly yield any useful information?