IHADAV8.com - Turbo Buick Tech, and Nonsense

Tech Area => General Buick Tech => Topic started by: gordyzx9r on February 20 2005, 09:54:05 PM

Title: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: gordyzx9r on February 20 2005, 09:54:05 PM

Alright, I know where the starter is (which is probably step one).  I can even get all the wires off of it (which is probably step two).  But I can't get to the fucking bolt that sits up above the crossover pipe...WTF?  How do I get to that thing without removing the crossover pipe, I have little to no knock right now and don't want to go screwing up how the exhaust is mounted.  BTW...it's an ATR crossover.  All I want to do is put in a mini-starter...but no, it's never easy.  So I put all the wires back on it...and thankfully it started again (well, it should I guess since it's a perfectly good starter...I just want to mount this nifty new mini-starter).

The alternator was surprisingly simple to change out.  Almost scary, it was so simple...somet hing ain't right...the car is going to explode now isn't it?

Supersix...do I get extra points for posting this here and not in the shoutbox?

Title: Re: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: SuperSix on February 21 2005, 12:30:35 AM

Quote from: "gordyzx9r @ Sun Feb 20, 2005 9:54 pm"

Alright, I know where the starter is (which is probably step one).

Title: Re: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: gordyzx9r on February 21 2005, 12:35:52 AM

Yeah...the crossover is sitting about one and a half inches below the starter bolt which is making it difficult to get a socket and driver on it.  I'm thinking maybe a crows foot or something.  I'll have to check out Sears to see if they have some kind of wonder tool or something.

Title: Re: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: SuperSix on February 21 2005, 12:47:28 AM

Maybe a Gearwrench?

I wonder if you will be able to remove the bolt once it's loose given the little clearance you have.

Title: Re: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: gordyzx9r on February 21 2005, 12:56:51 AM

I shouldn' have to remove the bolt all the way, just as long as it's out of the nut plate. Once I remove the other bolt I should just be able to reposition the starter a bit and then get the bolt out the rest of the way.  Or something.

Title: Re: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: SuperSix on February 21 2005, 12:59:14 AM

Quote from: "gordyzx9r @ Mon Feb 21, 2005 12:56 am"

I shouldn' have to remove the bolt all the way, just as long as it's out of the nut plate. Once I remove the other bolt I should just be able to reposition the starter a bit and then get the bolt out the rest of the way.

Title: Re: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: gordyzx9r on February 21 2005, 01:11:25 AM

Quote from: "SuperSix @ Mon Feb 21, 2005 12:59 am"

Acetylene torch?

Title: Re: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: gordyzx9r on February 21 2005, 09:09:09 PM

The dilemma...

Title: Re: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: Recklessrob on February 22 2005, 12:12:13 AM

I used an extension with a universal socket on the end. I't worked fine.

Title: Re: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: DCEPTCN on February 22 2005, 01:44:31 PM

Gordy, FWIW- I've twice had to undertake the unenviable taof changing my starter and -based on my experience- there is no way to avoid Excedrin headache #666. I've both times loosened the crossover and disconnected the trans fluid lines. Have two Ziploc/sandwich bags handy to affix to those lines with a rubber band before you've got tranny fluid all over the damn place. Also- be EXTREMELY cautious that you don't tug on those fusible links......I've been there and that sucks worse than I can describe.

Title: Re: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: gordyzx9r on February 22 2005, 01:51:09 PM

Screw it, I'll pay someone to suffer the frustration for me.

Title: Re: How to change the starter...without frustration?
Post by: DCEPTCN on February 22 2005, 02:05:13 PM

Quote from: "gordyzx9r @ Tue Feb 22, 2005 11:51 am"

Screw it, I'll pay someone to suffer the frustration for me.

When one can afford it, that's probably the best way to go. As I alluded to above, I messed up one of my fusible links while under there and the cost to have a mechanic fix that was about what I would have payed to just have him change the starter in the first place.