Need help with starter removal in 94 Pathfinder!

[Pwilson32]

Where are the two bolts located to remove the starter. I have found one on the lower side that removes from the front and is in an offset above the oil pan. It looks like the other one on the top side removes from the back toward the back of the care next to the exhaust pipe. Everything I have seen looks like they should both remove from the front or both from the back. Any help would be apreciated.

[Max62]

I cant quite remember the exact location of the bolts (been a while) but I had to drain the oil, remove the oil filter, take off 2 exhaust pipe shields (one on top, one on the bottom IIRC). From there you should be able to see where the bolts are.

Btw, I have a '95 Pathfinder 4wd if that makes a difference.

[LeftHandedWrench]

To remove the starter on a 1994 Nissan Pathfinder 3.0L V6 4x4 5 speed manual transmission model, follow the steps below:

1. Raise the car as needed and disconnect the negative battery terminal.

2. Remove the skid plate.

3. Remove the starter/oil pressure switch wiring harness support bracket by removing bolt that secures the harness to the bracket and removing the oil pan bolt holding the bracket.

4. Release the starter wiring harness from the plastic clip where the harness goes upward.

5. There is a rubber drain tube on the bottom of the starter’s brush cover. Carefully squeeze the rubber tube where it goes into the starter gently pull it out. It has a small groove at the top where it goes into the starter, and will get broken off if you don’t remove it before sliding the starter towards the front of the car.

6. Loosen the upper 14mm starter bolt located on the rear surface of the clutch housing a couple of turns using a long socket extension bar. Due to tight clearance with the exhaust pipe, you will then need to remove the socket from the bolt and place it at a slight angle just barely over the bolt head so that the socket does not get trapped against the exhaust pipe as the bolt is backed out the rest of the way.

7. Completely loosen the lower 14mm starter bolt.

8. Disconnect the oil pressure sending unit wire. This can be done from the top if you can get your hand into this tight area, or can be done from the bottom after sliding the loose starter forward a few inches (just enough to get your hand into this tight area)(don’t move the starter forward more than the available slack in the oil pressure sending unit wire). The oil pressure sending unit wire connector has a latch that must be depressed to remove it, and the latch is on the side of the oil pressure sending unit connector that does not have slots in it’s plastic connector. Since these oil pressure sending units have a habit of leaking as they get old, it is a good idea to replace it while the starter is removed and you can see what you are doing (the oil pressure sending unit is Nissan part no. 25240-89960).

9. Now carefully slide the starter toward the front of the vehicle until it clears the sway bar and can be swung downward. You will have to get the orientation of the starter just right so it can be moved forward since the clearance is extremely tight. Be sure to have something handy to rest the flywheel end of the starter on when you swing it downward so you don’t put any strain on the wiring.

10. Remove the battery cable nut from the starter solenoid and disconnect the battery cable.

11. Disconnect starter solenoid wire from the solenoid by squeezing its latch and pulling it outward.

The starter can now be serviced or replaced. Complete these steps in reverse to install the starter.