So I started having starter problems after jumping around in the dunes so I figured it was a loose connection, it worked fine when I got home and then it failed me completely last weekend after going through some mud;

How do I prevent this from happening again? The mud caked in it at least.

 

dont go mudding

isnt there some sort of cover that goes over that?

 

yes, thats with the cover off...shouldn't there be a gasket or something to keep crap out? Mine didn't have one and my replacement didn't either. how do those mud bogger guys keep mud out of theirs?

 

good advice

 

pardon my ignorance, but what the hell is it?

 

That’s the starter. I just replaced the contacts in my dad's 94 pickup and everything was clean. There was a black rubber gasket on his and the contact had a small round rubber seal. I really didn't see anywhere that mud could get in to the contacts unless it could somehow come in through the breather(s) I can't remember if there were two. Your picture is surprising, that’s a lot of mud. Was the starter ever submerged in muddy water?

 

it drove through water but not submerged in it.

 

Either get/make a gasket ot seal it up with some RTV.

 

Mudding > *

 

silicone it up.dont put a new starter on it just replace the contacts that are in your pic and it'll be good as new.