ok guys, I need some help. For the past 2 years I worked in an autoshop, but I've NEVER done a starter, and now, 3.5 hrs away from my shop and anyone who can help me my starter has bitten the dust (or so i think, its either that or wires) anywho, I need help locating my starter, taking it out, and testing it to see if it is bad or not, and I know none of these things , also testing the wires. If anyone can help and let me know the easiest/cheapest way to do this, i am a (very) poor college student and will be working on the ground outside my apartment in very hot heat, and so i just dont want to be wasting time. I should also mention i know nothing about starters except for basic knowledge, my background is engines and some diagnosis. If anyone could help, that would be awesome, thanks in advance!

 

Anyone? please...today and tomorrow are my only days that i will be able to work on my car anytime soon and i have work and school to go to...please any help would be appreciated...

 

What engine do you have, and what is the starter doing that makes you think there's a problem?

 

First off, there's not much to it; mostly, it's just a PITA from having to lay on your back and deal with a heavy thing over your head, and it's tricky to fit through the hole it has to go through.

It's on the bottom of the engine, pass side, where the engine meets the transmission. About even with the rear of the front tire, right next to the oil pan. You can take it out and take it to about any parts store and they'll be able to test it somewhat; it's a very common one, so they'll have a new one.

Step 1: DISCONNECT NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE!!!!!

2: Jack up the front of the car and put it on stands, under the K-member (large frame-looking thing under the front half of the engine), near the front control arm bushings (round, in brackets)

3: Take the wires off the starter; use either a 9/16" or 5/8" socket on a long extension, whichever it takes, on the large terminal where the + battery cable goes; and a 5/16", 8mm, 9mm, or 11/32" socket on a long extension and a universal joint, on the small terminal

4: Take the nut holding the rear of the starter in the little bracket; probably either a 3/8" or 10mm nut

5: Take out the 2 starteer bolts; 9/16", with a medium extension

6: The starter will fall partway out. Turn it with its mose pointing down and the solenoid toward the front of the car, and it should come out.

7: Installation is the reverse of removal. If there were any shims between the starter and the block, put them back before putting the bolts in.

 

I have a 5.0 4BL carburated. I think its either the wires or the starter itself because it has a hard time starting, if it does at all usually just clicks, at first i thought it may have been the battery or something being that ive had problems with that and it was acting the same way but i checked all of that out and its fine, also i tried jumping it and it wouldnt start right away which ive heard is sometimes (but not always) a sign that there is a problem with the starter, although i think i may be the wires because sometimes it starts perfect and others it wont at all so i dont know i just want to pull it and bench test it

 

Sounds to me like it needs a starter.

Pull it & bench test it = 125% of the work of replacing it - doesn't make a whole lot of sense

If you go to all that trouble, it'd be kinda stupid to put some old, mostly worn-out part back in there, even it it "passes" the bench test. Almost as dumb as something I'd do. I think you'll see what I mean, by the time you get it out... you won't be wanting to put that old skanky thing back in there, and have to worry about maybe doing this all over again next week, especially as cheeeep as a fresh one is.

 

Thank you guys so much, the reason why i wanted to bench test it first is because I just started my new job and wont be paid for awhile, and since i had to pay for school this summer i have a total of 5$ in my account to last me until i get paid, so i dont mind doing a lot of work to realize that its just wires or whatever. Once again thanks a lot...now to find me some tools (boy do i hate being away from my shop...)

 

Well if you think it's the thing to do, then go for it.... but I'm a pessimist, so if this was me, what would happen is, I'd pull it off, get it tested, it would test good, I'd put it back on, it still wouldn't work. Or maybe it would work once or twice, just enough to get me to a place where it would be EVEN MORE of a hassle to R&R it again; and instead of being the middle of the day and merely hot, it would be night and raining, and I'd be dressed in nice clothes and have somebody with me and a hard deadline to meet somewhere.

Guess how I know that's what would happen?

Good luck!!! I hope you're luckier than I've ever been.

 

You pretty much just talked me into just changing it, your story reminded me of a time not too long ago. Everything was almost as you described but I was just coming back from work, probably wearing a skirt or pants (can't remember but either way I was dressed up), it was raining, and I did have somewhere I had to be, except it was my fan clutch and thermostat (yup, both, at the same time...) and all I could do was call someone to bring me water and pray I was able to get to my shop and work on it. All in all, it was something I do not want to relive. New starter here I come...