How to Install a Starter
Knowing how to change astarter motoris important. Without the correct steps, you may cause a short circuit or damage the new starter motor or engine components. Still, you don't need to be a professional mechanic or have much experience working on cars. Following the right steps and taking the necessary precautions, you can replace a failed starter at home using some common tools you might already have in your toolbox.
Removing the starter motor
Park your car on a level surface and disconnect the negative or blackbattery cableusing a wrench. Isolate the cable terminal from the battery to prevent it from accidentally touching the battery post as you work on the starter. If necessary, wrap a shop rag around the terminal.
Raise the front of your vehicle with a floor jack and set it safely on jack stands. Then, use a couple of wooden blocks to block the rear wheels. Put on your goggles and crawl under the car. Locate the battery cable and any other wires attached to the rear of your starter motor and disconnect them using a wrench. Make a note of the location of each wire so that you can replace them correctly.
Remove any brackets and shields from the starter. Then loosen the starter bolts. Check to see if there are any shims installed between the motor and engine block. Does your starter motor use a shim? Make a note of the way it is mounted and its exact location. If you don't reinstall this shim the way it was originally installed, the pinion gear on your starter motor and flywheel gear on the engine will not mesh correctly and the gears and/or new starter motor may suffer some damage. When you are ready, hold the starter motor with one hand, finish removing the starter motor mounting bolts and remove the starter from the vehicle.
Installing the starter motor
When buying your new or rebuilt motor, compare the old unit to the new one and make sure it has the sameconfiguration. To install the new starter, hold the new unit in place with one hand and place the spacer shim, if any, between the starter motor and the engine block. Start the mounting bolts by hand. This will prevent you from cross threading the bolts. Before you tighten the mounting bolts, connect the battery cable and any other wires to the rear of the starter motor. Now, tighten the mounting bolts and replace the bracket and shield, if necessary. After lowering your vehicle, reconnect the battery cable and start the engine to confirm you've made a good repair.
Once you know how to change a starter motor, you can perform this repair job in about an hour or so. Not all vehicle engines, though, come with the same overall configuration. If you need to remove other components to gain access to the starter motor in your particular vehicle, you can consult the repair manual for your specific car make and model. Many auto parts stores carry these manuals, but you can also find them online. However, if you don't want to buy the manual, check with your local public library. They may have a copy available in the reference section.
