starter replacement

[( o )( o )]

Last week I finally fixed my 2 cars, so I guess my Blazer felt jealous and wanted some repairs too. (1995 Blazer, 4.3, auto, 4x4)

I believe my starter is dead after some troubleshooting. I have already ordered a new unit.

Based on my quick visual inspection, it seems there are 2 wires to disconnect, and then 2 bolts that go up to hold the starter in place. Is that all? Just remove/replace? Is there anything else I should be aware of before starting?

Thanks

[cpolaris502]

disconnect the battery since there is a hot wire that goes directly to the starter. dont know if you knew that or not.

thats all i know, i havent changed one before.

[flanders20]

yes. lack of space to work in

[beaniebmx]

i replaced mine on my 1991 1st gen s10 p/u, 2.5l l4,

it wasnt wanting to fire up without a second of cranking, and kept getting worse till i shut it off and it wouldnt fire up till 5 minutes of cranking.

bought the starter and what i starter with was

disconnect battery, i did both connections since i was having my dad test the battery while i was doing this, then reach down with whatever wrench you think fits.loosen the 2 wires on the starter, then feel around, theres a plate on the "front" part of the starter. that bolts to the motor block, take that bolt out.
then crawl underneath, and theres 2 bolts holding it into the flywheel, mine had 2 shims. make sure you REUSE those same shims. then its just muscling out the starter through the tiny area. remember how you pulled it out, it will help when you put the new one in. its a tight fit to shove it into and its heavy above your head.

then its just the reverse process, place the 2 shims ontop of the starter, i used some masking tape to keep them both lined up with eachother. once the starter is engaged on the flywheel teeth and bolted up on the bottom. you can go up top again. i left both bottom bolts LOOSE till you get the motor bracket bolt in the motor. then you can tighten all 3 up tight. then its just a matter of putting the 2 wires on the terminals and reconnecting battery.


my starter didnt come with the motor mount plate, you have to take the old one off your old starter and reuse it.

for me, i put the old battery in and it sounded like a machine gun, battery test didnt work so i bought a new one. sure enough it fired right up.

with mine, when i twouldnt start, it just made a clicking sound after awhile of trying to crank it

[( o )( o )]

So I crossed my fingers and bought a new starter on eBay for $65 shipped. It was a pain to get the old starter out. The new starter was slightly smaller and went in easily.

Now my Blazer sounds like a Dodge Dakota when it fires up. At first I thought it sounded like a little Japanese starter. However, I was at the gas station and I started the motor at the same time a Dakota started up...the two starters harmonized and it sounded like stereo.

I miss the old chevy starter sound.

[( o )( o )]

so 14 months later that eBay starter seems to have stopped working. I went to the local parts store and got a replacement - all too identical to the original, which is frickin huge! I have tried for hours to reinstall this beast. I can get the starter angled in, but I need just an 1/8" more to move back to get the pointy end into the hole of the tranny housing...i have even taken a grinder to the starter housing to try to trim down the bump and it still just won't clear. It's ridiculously close. I think at this point i need to unbolt the tranny from the crossmember and jack it up and see if that gives me enough room - does that sound crazy?

[( o )( o )]

Nevermind. I noticed a support bar between the block and tranny - I removed it and got the starter in. yay.