help replacing a starter

[KageBushin]

okay i have one starter bolt off (highlighted in yellow) but i cant figure out how to get to the other bolt.

it looks like i have to remove the lower intake manifold, but that seems like a lot of work for replacing a starter.

does anyone have any advice?

[NICONick]

okay i have one starter bolt off (highlighted in yellow) but i cant figure out how to get to the other bolt.

it looks like i have to remove the lower intake manifold, but that seems like a lot of work for replacing a starter.

does anyone have any advice?

Is that picture taken from the top or bottom? When I replaced mine I went from top and got under the car to get all the bolts.... hope that helps.

[BrianHarte]

Working from the bottom was always easier for me. i didn't have to remove anything else. T his was on a 1995 240sx for the record.

[KageBushin]

it was taken from the bottom. i can barely even see the starter from the top, the lower intake mani is directly in the way.

and from the bottom i cant get to the top bolt, i cant even see it :/

[SR24DET]

ok, first disconnect that plug. Then go below the car and take out the first bolt you see. Easy. There is only one more bolt. You cannot see it from the top, or the bottom. It goes through the transmission case and into the starter. You need to use your hand and feel for it from under the car. I could feel it from both top and bottom, but i found under the car to be more simple. Once you find it, put a socket on it and take it off. Then the starter comes out. Mine went at work. With a car jack, flat head screw driver and a .... 14mm socket i believe.... could be wrong... replaced it in 30min.

[3cpeeo]

good tools are always nice, like ratcheting offset wrenches..

although ive taken out both bolts from the top with a box end wrench.. takes time and a bit of finese.

take the bolts from top, drop the starter from the bottom.

[94_240sx]

This is a perfect length for starter swap. If it's shorter or longer, you will have a problem. It only took 10 min to swap the starters with this. Of course, you should jack up your car.

[KageBushin]

did anyone have to take the transmission fluid level gauge pipe to remove the starter? because i was trying to take it off and wound up stripping one of the bolts >.<

and i dont have that exact length, but if i did i dont see how id be able to get it in there, the transmission pipe is in the way along with a few wires that i cant get moved :/

[KageBushin]

okay i can see it from the top when i jack the rear of the transmission up, can reach it with a long breaker bar and a 14mm, but dont have enough room to turn it.

and i see how i might be able to do it from underneath, but id need to remove the transmission fluid gauge pipe, and one of the bolts holding that on is stripped.

and i bought a craftsman kit for removing stripped bolts, only the thing wont fit on the bolt, cause its too close to the transmission.

any advice?

[Kalypso]

what tool are you using for the stripped bolt... is it this.



these work very well.

[KageBushin]

those are the ones, i just cant get a wrench on it cause the bolt is too close to the transmission

[blackandblue]

you are gonna have to have plastic man arms to get enough down force on that bolt head to use those stripped bolt tools. You at least need a helper, maybe from the top to push back on the on the bar or ratchet. Otherwise, removing the intake mani may be your only option. That way you could sit in the bay and torque your heart out.

[KageBushin]

This is a perfect length for starter swap. If it's shorter or longer, you will have a problem. It only took 10 min to swap the starters with this. Of course, you should jack up your car.

when you replaced the starter with this, did you also have to remove the transmission fluid level gauge pipe? cause ive got extensions that wind up being just that long...do you go in from the top or the bottom?

[Kalypso]

transmission fluid level gauge pipe?

...I'm starting to realize we are in KA world...

if its in the way, remove it.

I used an open wrench, but once you put the stripped bolt socket, put a wrench on it. you'll get it off.

[94_240sx]

when you replaced the starter with this, did you also have to remove the transmission fluid level gauge pipe? cause ive got extensions that wind up being just that long...do you go in from the top or the bottom?

It was a staright swap. I did it on auto s13. I think I removed 1 bolt from the top and 2 long ones from the bottom. I might be wrong since it's been a while. No, transmission fluid level gauge pipe was not on the way, so I didn't have to mess with it. I was going to do a write up for vert guys, but it was too simple to be a write up material, so I just posted a proper length of extension. The toughest task was handling a hot starter, and I'm not joking.

[BrianHarte]

I didn't move ANYTHING.

Biggest thing is

DONT DROP IT ON YOUR FACE.

I almost did.Close call

[KageBushin]

This is a perfect length for starter swap. If it's shorter or longer, you will have a problem. It only took 10 min to swap the starters with this. Of course, you should jack up your car.

when you replaced the starter with this, did you also have to remove the transmission fluid level gauge pipe? cause ive got extensions that wind up being just that long...do you go in from the top or the bottom?

[KageBushin]

alright, i had to jack the back of the transmission up so i could reach the top bolt from the top, but i got the f*cker. and i did almost drop it on my face. thanks for the help guys

[Kalypso]