Starter Replacement

[jjs316]

I think my starter just kicked the bucket tonight, just get one click when i try and start it. Whats the best way to get it out of there? Through the top or the bottom? Is it even possible to get it out through the top? Thats what I would like to hear because I dont have any jack stands or anything up here at school. Three bolts and its loose?

[Grafton]

done when i pulled my engine,
from the top, 3 bolts + wires
sure your battery just doesn't have the juice to start it ?

[jjs316]

Yeah, I hooked it up to another car to check. I didnt figure it was my battery cause all my interior lights and alarm and power antenna all were powered just fine. And if it was dead enough just to click, none of that should have been working.

I was hoping that none of my vacuum or A/C lines would be in teh way coming out the top. Last night it looked like they might have been.

[nipper]

It's probably the contacts inside the starter solenoid. They are replacable. Starters themselves rarely go bad, but first make sure all your connections are clean.


nipper

[Wiscon_Mark]

Yeah, I hooked it up to another car to check. I didnt figure it was my battery cause all my interior lights and alarm and power antenna all were powered just fine. And if it was dead enough just to click, none of that should have been working.

You'd be surprised - it takes way more current to power the starter than it does to power interior lights, etc.

Just give the car a jump, that'll tell if it's the battery or not.

[jjs316]

Yeah, I hooked it up to another car to check. I didnt figure it was my battery cause all my interior lights and alarm and power antenna all were powered just fine. And if it was dead enough just to click, none of that should have been working.

You'd be surprised - it takes way more current to power the starter than it does to power interior lights, etc.

Just give the car a jump, that'll tell if it's the battery or not.


Thats what I said in what you just quoted, I hooked it up to another car to jump it and see if it was the battery, and it still justs clicks once.

[steamboat26]

I just replaced the starter in my 95 Legacy LS, a lot of lines get in the way (its a tight fit to get the old one out and the new one in). But once you get it in, just a few bolts and a wire and you are set.
Good luck.

[birukun]

If it clicks and does not start, and you think your battery is good, give it a few whacks with a flailing tool. (aka hammer)

That will tell you if the solenoid is flaky, I just went through this on mine 2 months ago. Pull it out through the top, but be prepared to jack it up to get underneath for bolt/nut removal. (Ithink it was a nut)

I also removed the airbox since it is easy to from the throttle body and gave me some extra space to work with.

Good luck-

[Bdubs]

I thought my starter was going as well last week.
It was clicking a few times before it would turn over for about a week, and then right as I put it in the garage, I go to start it up again to hear the click, and boom, totally dead.
But, all the lights, and accessories were still illuminating with no dimming at all. Good timing on that one.
But, anyway, Before I went the route of taking the starter out, I eliminated all possibilities before doing so, because an aftermarket, rebuilt starter is crap, a total piece of garbage and not worth the money. They won't last as long as the OEM, I can tell you that. So I wasn't going to get rid of a perfectly good starter.
I cleaned all grounds and contacts to the starter, the battery, and its connections. I get in the car to try it out, and it started right up. I haven't had a problem since, either.

So, just clean all the connections before taking the starter out. It only takes a few minutes, and costs you nothing.

[birukun]

So, just clean all the connections before taking the starter out. It only takes a few minutes, and costs you nothing.

I forgot to mention the easy and obvious. :oops: I had already done this step and failed to mention that......

This will be my 3rd starter in 137000 miles, I don't know if the location is hot or wet or something but the same symptoms have occurred both times.

OP, don't forget to follow up with the final answer after you fix it. Good Luck