On 4/2/09 1:38 AM, in article 49d45d84$1@news.acsalaska.net, "Dave D"
<dtdodson@acsalaska.net> wrote:

>
> "ChrisB" <chrisb@somewhere.com> wrote in message
> news:JdSdncUOvPkDX07UnZ2dnUVZ_sPinZ2d@giganews.com ...
>> E. Meyer wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> What happens if you try to jump it from another car? That'll tell you
>>> right
>>> off if the battery is the problem.
>>>
>>> Is this a parts store starter or OEM? If not OEM, the odds are high that
>>> at
>>> least part of your problem is the new starter.
>>
>> Well, I'll be. I must have run the battery down too low while trying to
>> juice the bad starter, that when I installed the replacement starter, the
>> battery was already too low to turn it. A couple of hours on the charger
>> now has my battery resting at 12.95 volts with the car off, and I am
>> getting 14.4 to 14.5 volts with the car running.
>>
>> Now I just hope I didn't make a big mistake by going with a Duralast
>> starter over a Honda OEM...
>
> I wouldn't worry about it. My 86 Civic's OEM starter lasted 5 winters here
> in Alaska. I replaced it with a NAPA starter in 1993 (bought the Honda used)
> and that starter is still cranking along fine. Contrary to what others in
> this group will tell you, not every bit and piece on a Honda should be
> replaced with OEM parts. Some yes definitely but I have had very
> satisfactory replacements from NAPA and even some from Car Quest. Good luck
> to you....
>
> DaveD
>
>
NAPA is usually a step up from the junk that some of the lesser places sell.
My experience has been about 30% of the cheap parts store starters I've
tried worked correctly. Either DOA (easy to diagnose) or they draw
excessive current (harder to diagnose, symptoms are slow cranking and
rapidly dead batteries).

If the OP got a good one, I agree there is nothing to worry about. They
seem to be pretty pretty much a go/no go proposition.