Starter problems

[trackfiend]

So how much of a nightmare is it to pull the starter on my 96? Recently when you try to start the car it sounds like the starter doesn't engage or hangs. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[cooljess76]

It's a nightmare. The manuals will tell you to pull the upper and lower intake manifolds, but if you're good like me, you could pull it from underneath the car. You'll need to remove the dipstick to make room for the starter to come out. It's like a Chinese puzzle, but it can be done. There's only 2 bolts holding it on. Both thread through the transmission bell housing. Your starter is either threaded or non-threaded, meaning it has nuts on the other side of the bolts or the bolts thread into the starter. The bolts are inverse torx and the nuts(if applicable) are 16mm. The outer bolt and nut are somewhat easy to access. The inner is almost impossible and will likely require 2 people if your starter is the non threaded type. Do yourself a favor and buy a 2ft extension or a bunch of long ones. While under the car, stick your arm up and around the driver's side of the tranny next to where the fuel lines run towards the engine. Those lines have a nylon braided sleeve that tears the crap out of your forearms if you're built like me, so move them out of the way. Feel along the front side of the bell housing and see if there's a nut holding the starter on. If so, call a friend and buy 2 extensions. If not, use the long extension with the appropriate size inverse torx socket and a breaker bar. Guide the extension from the rear of the transmission between the floorboard and the top of the tranny with one hand and position the inverse torx onto the bolt with the other hand. If yours is non-threaded, you're going to need a friend to guide another extension through the upper and lower intake manifolds with a 16mm socket on a universal while you actually guide it onto the nut from underneath the car. Have your friend hold the extension on the nut firmly while you break it loose from underneath. The hard part is over. Next, you're gong to have to disconnect the 3 wires from the solenoid. They're different sizes, but not too difficult to access. Try to remember which wire goes on which terminal. I'd recommend drawing it on a piece of paper. Next, you'll need to pull the dipstick tube out of the oil pan. There's a bracket with one bolt attached to the intake manifold. Remove it. The starter should be totally disconnected at this point. Gently rotate it 270 degrees and maneuver it down from underneath the car. Don't forget to disconnect the battery before starting this procedure. Good luck!

[tiFreak]

holy crap that's a long post

[elchicano]

I'm just lucky i didn't do my starter and instead my cousin in law whos a mechanic.

[trickiekid]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

Don't forget to disconnect the battery before starting this procedure. Good luck!

Never forget that step! Also, make sure you hook up the solenoid the right way when you are done. New EWS boxes cost about $500 to get replaced (just pick up my car today for f-ing up the solenoid wires, i think)

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by elchicano318ti

I'm just lucky i didn't do my starter and instead my cousin in law whos a mechanic.

you're saying you did your cousin-in-law?

[elchicano]

nah when i first got the ti the starter was bad. I'm just lucky i didn't do it myself. It seemed like it was a pay in the A$$ to do. So i had my cousin in law replace the starter for me. I could trust him because he's a mechanic. My bad i see what you mean.

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by elchicano318ti

My bad i see what you mean.

it's not your fault, I have a dirty mind

[elchicano]

yea but when i reread i got the same response. But back on topic unless your a DIY person go ahead. I personally decided not to do it so i had someone else do it.