STARTER REPLACEMENT Tips........

[burrpenick]

Hopefully this will HELP other members who have to remove/replace their starters:I posted recently a thread about a no click/turn over issue with my 2003 VIBE. Figured it was the contacts and/or BENDIX again (happened at 40k) but decided that at 140k to replace the entire starter. If I tapped on the starter (this will usually only work a couple of times- DONT think you will get away with it for long!) it would engage. I went for a REMANUFACTURED unit from Advanced for $100 w/LIFETIME guarantee- new ones are much more. Research appeared to show that NAPA and others use the same remanufacturer (Worldwide by REMY...Delco Remy of old?). It's assembled in MEXICO and looks identical to the factory Denso unit. Was told by Advanced that they only reuse the HOUSING. Didnt verify that but it sounds good. So, since I had to figure out what I was doing as I went, this should make it much easier for any other unlucky VIBE owner who wants to change out their own starter. Remember, this starter is removed from under the hood-NOT from under the car.Disconnect battery negative post. Remove radiator fan/coolant overflow assembly (only two 10mm bolts at the top, one electrical pull out connector, and the small rubber hose from the radiator cap to the overflow tank). The entire assembly will now pull straight up and out. I also suggest that you slide a piece of cardboard or plywood infront of the radiator to prevent an accidental hit that can easily trash these plastic radiators.Unplug the small starter wire on the bendix (top) portion of the starter (do not force, push in clip first), now remove 12MM nut that holds main wire on starter. Unloosen the 14MM bolt at the bottom of the starter that you can easily see, now locate the top one (look at your NEW STARTER). I removed the bracket that holds the Fuel Injector assembly to the bottom of the engine block so that I would have more room and could SEE that top starter bolt. NOTE THAT this top bolt screws into the starter from the drivers side- not like the bottom one that screws into the transmission housing from the passenger side. Congratulations, the starter should now pull out/up and you can easily reverse the process to get the car back on the road. Took me about 1.5 hrs, but with these tips I figure it could be done in about an hour. .

[ecnal_la]

Awesome. Thank you for your explanation. Just followed these and worked great. Your point about pulling the radiator fan module made this much easier. Also, could have done without removing the fuel injector bracket, but that made it much easier. The bolt running through the transmission to the starter seemd unusal to me at first, but made access much easier. If it had gone from the starter to the block, would have had to remove the intake manifold to access. Thanks again.

[joatmon]

Thanks from me too! It did take about an hour. Seemed like most of the time was spent solving the electrical connector releases and looking for that tranny side bolt.

And one more tip. When you are placing the new starter into position , make sure the starter wires are not behind it or you will have to take it back off to free the wires. Trust me on this one, I have first hand knowledge

[cooter]

Hi folks.

I may need to replace the starter on my 2003 this weekend, once I verify the starter relay is good...

One question - I know the starter can be removed from above, but is it easier to do from below?

Thanks.

[lannvouivre]

Hi folks.

I may need to replace the starter on my 2003 this weekend, once I verify the starter relay is good...

One question - I know the starter can be removed from above, but is it easier to do from below?

Thanks.

I think you may need to pull splash shields under the engine bay, unless the clips have already fallen out. I can look tomorrow.

[joatmon]

One question - I know the starter can be removed from above, but is it easier to do from below?

I think that trying to replace it from below would make the job a lot more difficult and awkward

[cooter]

I want to check for power at the starter to see if it's a relay problem...at which point can this be done?

I only see one electrical connector to the starter, on the bottom (only visible from under the car). Is that the place to check? If so, how do I remove that electrical connector?

Thanks.

[cooter]

One other thing - I cannot find the starter relay. In the fuse block under the hood, there is an EFI relay, which I can hear/feel click when the key is turned, but I don't see anything labeled "ST" or "Starter".

Thanks.

[cooter]

I found the power connection at the starter, under the rubber boot.

I don't have power there when the key is turned, so I'm thinking it's the starter relay. Would you folks agree? Or is there another explanation?

UPDATE:
There was another explanation - the ground wire between the starter motor and solenoid had failed.

[Mark]

Hopefully this will HELP other members who have to remove/replace their starters:I posted recently a thread about a no click/turn over issue with my 2003 VIBE. Figured it was the contacts and/or BENDIX again (happened at 40k) but decided that at 140k to replace the entire starter. If I tapped on the starter (this will usually only work a couple of times- DONT think you will get away with it for long!) it would engage. I went for a REMANUFACTURED unit from Advanced for $100 w/LIFETIME guarantee- new ones are much more. Research appeared to show that NAPA and others use the same remanufacturer (Worldwide by REMY...Delco Remy of old?). It's assembled in MEXICO and looks identical to the factory Denso unit. Was told by Advanced that they only reuse the HOUSING. Didnt verify that but it sounds good. So, since I had to figure out what I was doing as I went, this should make it much easier for any other unlucky VIBE owner who wants to change out their own starter. Remember, this starter is removed from under the hood-NOT from under the car.Disconnect battery negative post. Remove radiator fan/coolant overflow assembly (only two 10mm bolts at the top, one electrical pull out connector, and the small rubber hose from the radiator cap to the overflow tank). The entire assembly will now pull straight up and out. I also suggest that you slide a piece of cardboard or plywood infront of the radiator to prevent an accidental hit that can easily trash these plastic radiators.Unplug the small starter wire on the bendix (top) portion of the starter (do not force, push in clip first), now remove 12MM nut that holds main wire on starter. Unloosen the 14MM bolt at the bottom of the starter that you can easily see, now locate the top one (look at your NEW STARTER). I removed the bracket that holds the Fuel Injector assembly to the bottom of the engine block so that I would have more room and could SEE that top starter bolt. NOTE THAT this top bolt screws into the starter from the drivers side- not like the bottom one that screws into the transmission housing from the passenger side. Congratulations, the starter should now pull out/up and you can easily reverse the process to get the car back on the road. Took me about 1.5 hrs, but with these tips I figure it could be done in about an hour. .

The starter on my 04 started acting up a couple weeks ago, it would start to crank and then disengage. If you kept bumping the key it would eventually catch long enough to start. I tested the battery and cleaned the terminals and it still did it. This is my teenage daughter's daily driver and I didn't want to take a chance on it stranding her somewhere. I pulled the old one out and it tested fine, but NAPA had a new (reman) one on hand for about $90 w/core so I went ahead and bought it. I looked a several posts and youtube videos to see how to do it, but I had a heck of a time getting the top bolt out, I couldn't find it for anything. Then I re-read the above post and caught the highlighted part. Taking that bracket off made all the difference, so burrpenick, if you're still around, Thank you!

After getting the new one in and hooking everything back up, I realized that my positive battery clamp wasn't tightening properly. That might have been the problem all along, but it's not worth the 90 bucks for me to do that all over again. It's got 150k, so I don't mind having a new starter anyway.

[Murdoc]

My starter finally went at 170,000 miles can't complain about that. Thanks again to this site and a video on youtube i was able to change the starter myself. Best tip i can offer is there is a metal plate or bracket that covers the upper starter bolt. remove this plate/bracket to get easier access to the upper start bolt rather then trying to guess or feel for it.

[MEETSE]

How do you know if the starter is bad.
New Post: My 2004 Vibe won't start
Sorry to cut in on a post, but one day at work my 2004 PVibe would not start. I waited after work and it started on first try. Ever since it has been sitting in my drive while I try to resolve this issue.

1. Replaced battery and vehicle immediately started. The nest day:
> had all power but would not make a sound!
> replaced positive cable-head, would not make a sound!
> checked alll fuses, would not make a sound!
2. Try not to incur any towing charges, Any Ideas????????????????????????

[gtv237]

How do you know if the starter is bad.
New Post: My 2004 Vibe won't start
Sorry to cut in on a post, but one day at work my 2004 PVibe would not start. I waited after work and it started on first try. Ever since it has been sitting in my drive while I try to resolve this issue.

1. Replaced battery and vehicle immediately started. The nest day:
> had all power but would not make a sound!
> replaced positive cable-head, would not make a sound!
> checked alll fuses, would not make a sound!
2. Try not to incur any towing charges, Any Ideas????????????????????????

It's probably the starter. If you bang on it with a hammer you can probably get it to turn over.

[MEETSE]

With what little space was available I banged on the side of the starter (only exposed part of the starter without stripping) and it started. Does this mean that that the starter is going bad and until it does you have to bang on it with a hammer?

[gtv237]

With what little space was available I banged on the side of the starter (only exposed part of the starter without stripping) and it started. Does this mean that that the starter is going bad and until it does you have to bang on it with a hammer?

The hammer trick works when either the windings in the DC motor have gone flat or if the solenoid is sticking. I would recommend replacement as soon as possible.

[MEETSE]

Thanks, I'm price hunting now!