After troubleshooting my starting problems for the last month, i decided the starter needs rebuilding. Yesterday i decided to remove the starter. I read a few posts about removing the starter, there are some mistakes and a few left out details:
here is a good comprehesive list 'starter removal for the moron', me of course being the moron:
1) disconnect the battery (if you have't ever done this, it requires removal of the spare tire). The battery posts need a 10mm socket/wrench to loosen and remove.
2) remove the air filter cover and filter (this requires either a philips screw driver or a 8mm socket. (you don't need to remove the bottom of the air filter cover)
3) now you should have a decent look at the starter. it is located below the coolant bottle. I have replaced my coolant bottle with a dali racing one, so i think that gave me some space as well. with the stock coolant bottle, you might need to remove it before starter removal.
4) looking at the starter and the diagram on page 1067 of the .pdf service manual (23-81 in the real manual), you should be able to get an idea of what lies ahead, and what cables are what.
5) most of the directions i have read say 'loosen the coli cover bolts with a 10mm socket'. i can't figure out why? the coil is attached to the starter, no need to loosen the bolts. it will just add extra time to the process.
6) find the power input terminal (B terminal in the diagram). There is a 10mm bolt holding a metal wiring support that holds the cable going into the B terminal. remove this 'wiring harness' with a 10mm socket.
7) once the metal harness is gone, the maluable/plyable cable cover can be lifted and pulled back to expose the bolt holding the cable in. this bolt is 12mm. i have seen others claim it is a 15mm, but on my car it was 12mm. remove this bolt
8) next to the B terminal is the S terminal. the wire going in is black & white. the S terminal cable can be removed by pulling it out gently. no bolts
9) you are down to 2 bolts, the big ones! as per the diagram, there are 2 large bolts holding the starter to the engine. these bolts are 17mm and will require some serious force to remove. this is by far the hardest part of the job. if you can get the following tools, you are set:
(1) 1/2 inch drive socket wrench (longer handle the better)
(1) 1/2 drive 5 inch extension
(1) 1/2 drive 17mm deep socket (short socket may work)
10) remove these bolts without breaking anything else
(watch out for a break line right underneath the coolant botle.) when removing these bolts, remove the bottom one first. this prevents binding on the bottom bolt, when the top one is loosened.
11) remove starter through the same hole you have been working in
I don't have mine back yet from a rebuild, so re-installation may prove to be more difficult.
here is a good comprehesive list 'starter removal for the moron', me of course being the moron:
1) disconnect the battery (if you have't ever done this, it requires removal of the spare tire). The battery posts need a 10mm socket/wrench to loosen and remove.
2) remove the air filter cover and filter (this requires either a philips screw driver or a 8mm socket. (you don't need to remove the bottom of the air filter cover)
3) now you should have a decent look at the starter. it is located below the coolant bottle. I have replaced my coolant bottle with a dali racing one, so i think that gave me some space as well. with the stock coolant bottle, you might need to remove it before starter removal.
4) looking at the starter and the diagram on page 1067 of the .pdf service manual (23-81 in the real manual), you should be able to get an idea of what lies ahead, and what cables are what.
5) most of the directions i have read say 'loosen the coli cover bolts with a 10mm socket'. i can't figure out why? the coil is attached to the starter, no need to loosen the bolts. it will just add extra time to the process.
6) find the power input terminal (B terminal in the diagram). There is a 10mm bolt holding a metal wiring support that holds the cable going into the B terminal. remove this 'wiring harness' with a 10mm socket.
7) once the metal harness is gone, the maluable/plyable cable cover can be lifted and pulled back to expose the bolt holding the cable in. this bolt is 12mm. i have seen others claim it is a 15mm, but on my car it was 12mm. remove this bolt
8) next to the B terminal is the S terminal. the wire going in is black & white. the S terminal cable can be removed by pulling it out gently. no bolts
9) you are down to 2 bolts, the big ones! as per the diagram, there are 2 large bolts holding the starter to the engine. these bolts are 17mm and will require some serious force to remove. this is by far the hardest part of the job. if you can get the following tools, you are set:
(1) 1/2 inch drive socket wrench (longer handle the better)
(1) 1/2 drive 5 inch extension
(1) 1/2 drive 17mm deep socket (short socket may work)
10) remove these bolts without breaking anything else
(watch out for a break line right underneath the coolant botle.) when removing these bolts, remove the bottom one first. this prevents binding on the bottom bolt, when the top one is loosened.11) remove starter through the same hole you have been working in
I don't have mine back yet from a rebuild, so re-installation may prove to be more difficult.
