M45 Starter removal

[moxiep3]

Greetings! Fairly new to forum. For the life of me, I cannot access the top bolt holding the starter to the block. Any tricks? Am I missing something? I have the 2003 with 125.000 miles

[szh]

I really don't know how to do this.

But, have you checked out the FSM available at NICO? Link to it is in my sig ... there might be something there that describes the details.

Z

[MaxBolus]

Hi-

Not sure why you're removing the starter, but have you seen this thread?
post6167097.html

I'm having the same issue mentioned above, and am planning to insect/clean the battery terminals this weekend before I look at the starter. (I've had this happen with two of my past cars, and in one case I had replaced the starter only to find that the problem was corroded battery connectors.. )

Just thought I may save you some work and $$.

cheers,
m

[SteveTheTech]

I hate doing starters on Y34s, but when they click sometimes it tends to be the beginning of the end for the starter (assuming the basics are in good condition). I see a few of these a year come in on a hook with the same complaint. Typically they will click a few times and if you keep trying it will catch eventually catch.

I know many of the guys I work with pull the manifold off to gain access at the top nut, especially since I know several of the have stripped it out. There is no way I know what doesn't involve raising the motor and using a complex combination of extensions and flex adapters and it still takes the pros a serious amount of time.

As an aside-
I see far too many well intentioned DIYers cause themselves all kinds of headaches with loose and corroded battery cables. If the ground terminal is loose it can raise the total resistance of the ground circuit creating a load at terminal. This drops available voltage at every component in the car.

Real quick story from this past week
Patient-2008 EX35
Complaint- CEL is on, yellow KEY light illuminated, intermittent no start.
Observations- The car was sold used by a local domestic dealer. Several other complaints were addressed by poorly installed brakes and worn tires. The car had been to another Infiniti dealer and the aftermarket remote starter was removed and the harnesses were repaired. After finding loose battery cables all the problems were resolved. It sat in QC for two days and was put through a dozen tests before being released this afternoon. Loose battery cables caused two dozen codes in half a dozen systems.

[moxiep3]

Thanks for all the recommendations. My starter was bad. To remove it ( and to get to the top bolt), you have to remove the passenger side motor mount, then jack the engine up about 2 inches. The bolt is still a "blind/feel" with an extension, but it is quite doable. Thanks