Replace A Car Starter? Here Is The Easy Guide
The starter is an electric motor that is prone to failure like any other electrical component on your vehicle. Over time and after thousands of start cycles, the starter begins to wear electrically and will short or create an opening in either the electric motor or the solenoid attached to the starter. Before condemning the starter, it is a good idea to remove it and take it to your local auto parts store and have it bench tested to verify that the starter is bad. Otherwise you could end up replacing a good starter that is fully functional.
Once you have verified that the starter is bad, follow the steps below to replace it.
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. This will ensure that you do not get electrocuted while replacing the starter.
2. Jack the front end of the vehicle and place on jack stands and remove the positive cable from the starter with a wrench or ratchet.
3. Remove the starter signal connector (Will be black) from the starter solenoid. Simply pull it off with your hand.
4. Loosen the two bolts that hold the starter to the engine block. To do this use a ratchet and extension if you need it.
5. Pull the starter out of the engine bay. Position new starter in place and tighten the bolts.
6. Connect the positive battery cable to the starter and connect the starter signal connector to the solenoid.
7. Lower the vehicle.
8. Reconnect negative battery cable and start the car.
Tips:
If there are any shims that were on the original starter, be sure to place those shims on the new starter. The shims are needed so that there is enough spacing between the starter drive and the flywheel. If you do not use the shims you could cause damage to the starter and flywheel. If there were not any shims on the original starter then disregard this.
Warning:
Always wear safety glasses while working on your vehicle to protect your eyes from injury.