Post by
Raizor86 »
https://forums.nicoclub.com/raizor86-u208907.html
Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:28 pm
Well I got it done... No thanks to yall. So let me answer my own questions in case anyone ever needs a reference and happens to come across this thread.
Question 1:Can I do it without removing the exhaust manifold?
Answer: Yes. It can be done. While the EM does make it a complete pain in the a** to do, the starter will just wiggle out of it's place and on the bright side, you don't have to worry about doin a EM gasket.
Question 2: What all do I have to remove to get to the starter to change it?
Answer: Nothing. Just jack up the passenger side of the truck, put a jackstand under it, or what I did was cinder-blocks, and flat pieces of concrete that are similar to the blocks (Don't know what to call it). Or, you could do this easily with vehicle ramps. After the truck is up, you can reach the starter with relative ease by removing the passenger front wheel if you don't go with the ramps.
Question 3: Specific tools and sockets I need?
Answer: 9/16 socket and socket wrench for the mounting bolts, and a 1/2 inch open end wrench. Jack, jackstands/ramps, and a tire iron to remove the tire. The 1/2 wrench for for the electrical connection that provides power to the starter. Oh and a U-joint adapter and two extensions or one long one, for your socket wrench. The top mounting bolt for the starter is in a very confined space. I had to make a trip to the auto store to pick up a U-joint adapter just to get it off since I didn't have one. It did it's job well, just be careful as you could end up stripping the bolt. Even with the U-joint, there's still hardly any room and the socket won't want to seat properly on the bolt head. I managed to keep the bolt head from stripping using caution and common sense.
Question 4:Any tips and tricks you guys have picked up that will help me?
Answer: My biggest problem with this job was when I was putting the new starter in. I didn't disconnect the electrical connection before I actually removed the starter itself. I got the starter off and into a better position to remove it. Because I did it this way, I did the reverse for putting the new starter in, and hooked it up before I got the starter in it's place. Because this is my first time doing this, I didn't think this little connector would get in the way, but it did. First I couldn't get the starter in because this was in the way, and after I adjusted it I probably played with the starter for an hour trying to just get the bolt holes to line up properly. After dinner and some time to rest my mind, I went back out and found that this little connector I adjusted just to get it in there, was now in the way because I adjusted it before. So I adjusted it again, and it lined up just right. After that it was a snap. Just put the bolts back in, tightened down, put the wheel back on, and the truck started right up first try.
You should also have a buddy on hand as the starter isn't light and you have limited space and limited wire length on the electrical connections. It's good to have someone to hold it, while you use both hands to work with the electrical connections. You could also use some engine cleaner and clean up the area around the old starter before you remove it, if you're worried about gettin dirty. I got pretty dirty doin this.
This was a pretty straight forward job, and my biggest obstacle was inexperience.
Hope this helps anyone that needs it.
Well. That's it. If you regs actually read this, I'll probably hang around. I'm real into z31's and I might be pickin up another one here soon.