installing a new starter diy?

[wvicary]

it's the starter bendix or drive that causes the noise.... just get it rebuilt.

[vath2001]

I just pulled my starter and I will take it to AutoZone get tested tomorrow. It took two hours to pull the starter. The hoses and tubes on my '98 (63k miles) did not want to separate. If they had, I could have had the starter out in an hour.

The car squelled at every start and it turned over very slow... so I feel it necessary to pull the starter and have it tested. AutoZone can get me a "remanu" for $130 and the old starter.

I will update when I know if its the starter or not... but the bendix is dry and it doesn't sound good when I turn it by hand.

[vath2001]

Took the starter to AutoZone. They put it in the tester, hit test and it went "clunk". He hit reset and tested again... weeeee. We tried it again and "clunk", reset...weeeee. So something is wrong inside.
The guy at AutoZone could not order the starter? The system wouldn't allow him. He called corporate and they put him on hold and are supposed to call back.

I pulled up the AutoZone website and it allowed me to ordered it... $212 delivered to my house (free shipping) and I can take back the core to AZ and get back $75. So I now I wait to see is AZ actually has it and will ship.

I did call around and everyone else want $200 plus the core(and a week to deliver). The rebuilder said at least $150... it they can get parts.

[vath2001]

AutoZone cannot get me a starter. They cancelled the order because its not available... would have been nice to know earlier. I have one on order from Parts America (Shipping out of Phoenix) $200 and $70 core. I can return the core to a local store.

Does anyone know is the lower bolt can be reached from the front of the engine? I am thinking about removing the access panel behind the seats and using long extensions across the top of the engine to tighten the lower bolt. Anyone tried this?

[vath2001]

The lower bolt of the starter can be reached from the front engine access. It took all my extensions and you go under the belt.

Took about 2 hours to get the starter in and everything buttoned up.
No more screech when the car starts and the dash lights don't dim out.

I do need to start a thread asking how to fix a broken dip stick tube.... casualty of the repair.

[wanna986]

Thanks for the updates. Why did you have to get to the starter from the inside?

[vath2001]

There is no room to get to the lower starter bolt. I managed to loosen it from the top and remove it, but there no way that I was going to able to tighten it back down. The oil fill tube and dipstick tube are in the way. I also had to pull off some of the vacuum lines to make room.

So I tried accessing from the inside and it worked great.

For the positive cable and solenoid wire, I was able to get my hand and socket under the throttle body to tighen the wires back onto the starter.

Getting the starter out / in was a real trick. There is no room and you have to muscle and push hoses out of the way.... that's how I broke the dip stick tube.