How to Install a Car Starter:
Part 1: Removing a Bad Starter
(1).Disconnect the battery.
You will not need to remove the positive cable on the battery.
Always disconnect the battery before servicing the electrical system in your vehicle.
(2).Jack up the vehicle if need be.
Ensure you jack the vehicle up on firm, level ground.
(3).Locate the starter.
The smaller cylinder attached to the starter is the starter solenoid.
A wire should run directly from the positive terminal on the battery or from the fuse box under the hood to the top terminal on the starter solenoid.
(4).Disconnect the wiring to the solenoid.
In some cases, it may just be clips you need to disconnect for the wiring.
On some starters, you will need to loosen bolts or screws that hold the wires in place.
(5).Remove the starter retaining bolts then the starter.
Be sure to use the correct size socket, otherwise you risk damaging the bolts.
(6).Compare the new starter to the old one. Slide the starter into place.
If the two starters don’t look mostly identical, it may not be the correct starter for your vehicle.
New starter solenoids often come with four terminals, but can be used with only two.
Part 2: Installing a New Starter
(7).Insert the starter retainer bolts.
If the bolt does not thread properly, unscrew it and try again.
Make sure the bolts are tight so they can’t vibrate loose while the engine is running.
(8).Connect the wiring to the starter solenoid.
With the starter secured in place, reconnect the wiring you disconnected from the old starter onto the terminals on the new one. If your new solenoid has four terminals but your old one had two, only utilize the top and bottom terminal on the new solenoid. If your old one had four and the new one does as well, connect them to the same terminals they were connected to on the old one.
(9).Reconnect the battery.
With the starter installed and wired, reconnect the black cable to the negative terminal on the battery and tighten it in place. Insert the key into the ignition and attempt to start the vehicle.
If the vehicle fails to start with the new starter in place, ensure the battery is fully charged.
(10).Listen to the vehicle as you attempt to start it.
As you turn the key in the ignition, listen for the sounds the engine makes to help determine if you have an issue with your starter. If the engine makes no sound whatsoever, or you hear only a faint clicking, it may be because there isn’t enough power reaching the electric starter motor.
(11).Ensure the battery terminals are clean and secure.Charge your vehicle’s battery.
A weak connection from the battery can prevent the engine from starting.
Wear gloves when cleaning battery terminals to avoid getting battery acid on your skin.
If you suspect the battery may simply be low on power, try charging it using either a trickle charger or another vehicle to jump start it. Be sure to connect the red cable to the positive terminal on each vehicle and the black to the negative.
(12).Check to see the starter solenoid is bad.
If the test light does not light up, it means power is not reaching the starter motor due to a faulty solenoid or a dead battery.
If the test light does light up, it means the solenoid is good, but the starter itself may have failed.
