How to: Replace Starter Motor

[sstuart]

So, my starter motor died this weekend, so, I got a used one from AADCO for $50.00 and replaced it. Thought I'd share how I did it. I'm assuming those of us with newer engines won't need this for a while, but I thought it would be good to have.

Remember, this is on my 98 sedan with the 1.5L, if you know of any differences for the other engines, please share.

First off, this is what one looks like:

http://lh6.google.com/fishguy190/R0tPgkkgZrI/AAAAAAAAARc/unnqykIvlYE/november%202007%20235.jpg?imgmax=512


Jack the car up, you need access from underneath and from top.

Before you work on it, disconnect the negative terminal on your battery, don't learn the hard way like I did and make a nice arc when you're disconnecting the positive wire from the solenoid.

It is located on the back of the engine, under the intake manifold. You will need to remove the resonator box with the air filter in it to access the two top bolts for the motor. These are easily accessed from the top of the car, see:

http://lh3.google.com/fishguy190/R0tPl0kgZuI/AAAAAAAAAR0/MCszr4HxjsE/november%202007%20278.jpg?imgmax=512

Those two bolts are 14 mm on my car, have no interest in checking them on the P5 yet, so start there.

Next, you will need to remove the intake manifold support bracket. It has three bolts holding it in place, one on the manifold and two on the block. It looks like this:

http://lh5.google.com/fishguy190/R0tPkUkgZtI/AAAAAAAAARs/dSzwHvNf0n4/november%202007%20276.jpg?imgmax=512

No, it is not connected in that shot, it was hard to get a good shot while in position. Here is the top bolt in place:

http://lh5.google.com/fishguy190/R0tPnUkgZvI/AAAAAAAAAR8/yNiqUyIDonQ/november%202007%20290.jpg?imgmax=512

The arrow just shows which part I'm talking about. The top bolt was easily removed from the top of the car and the bottom two were easily removed from underneath. They weren't too hard to remove.

Now you will be able to see the back end of the starter motor, like this:

http://lh5.google.com/fishguy190/R0tPiUkgZsI/AAAAAAAAARk/bnppj_vB5Jw/november%202007%20240.jpg?imgmax=512

If you follow the skinny arrow, that leads to the third bolt holding the motor on. Now, before you go and remove that, there is the power connections to take off. One is simply a connector that you will need to squeeze the release to get it off. The other, the positive connection, is a 12 mm bolt hidden under a cap. I couldn't get a good shot, but you will see it on top of the solenoid, see picture one. Now take off the third bolt and drop the starter motor out.

To install the new one, just go in reverse. It's that easy.

I started out following the Haynes guide for my car, but it wanted me to remove the exhaust header and catalytic from the front. I took a look in and couldn't see the starter behind the catalytic, so I found it hiding in the back.

In all, it took about an hour and half to get it out and about the same to get it back in. Again, if you have anything to add, please do so.

[Logan]

good work.
FS-DE is essentially the same.

[midnitehour]

some additional information
for 02 2.0L sedan with autobox.

the Automatic starter only has 2 bolts. one ontop of the tranny and one below the starter.

both bolts are 12mm

you do not need to remove the intake manifold support bracket, but it makes life easier.

you do not need to remove the intake piping, but batter removal is a must.

attach the wire back onto the starter is quite difficult as there isn't much slack on the wire.

tools used:

12mm deep socket
12mm shallow socket
1/4" drive wrench
1/4" "breaker" wrench
1/4" stubby wrench
3" socket extension

space is very tight on the upper bolt, the angle on the manifold's bolts make it wuite hard to get a proper wrench in there, stubby and breaker bar came into play here.

over all easy installation, working under the car is a pain though,

[sstuart]

thanks, now I know when it comes to needing to do the P5:)