97 Starter removal

[gpw]

I need to change the starter again in the Escort. I had a certain shop do it last winter. They went through 3 starters before one worked. During the summer it to started to act up on cool misty mornings. And now when the tempt get below freezing it does not want to work. This shop had just changed ownership prior to the repairs. I think they cheaped out the parts.
Anyways I bought a new starter with insulated spade connector and extra wire.
The problem is how to remove it.
The manual say you take it out from the top. Well on my car there is no such room to get buy the intake manifold. Also the 3rd bolt is not visible from underneath. It seems I need to remove the Battery and the box to get at the bolts. Can anyone verify this is what I need to do. I want to change it before it gets too cold and snow on the ground here.
It looks like it can be removed from underneath once unbolted.
HELP!

[Davescort97]

Originally Posted by gpw

I need to change the starter again in the Escort. I had a certain shop do it last winter. They went through 3 starters before one worked. During the summer it to started to act up on cool misty mornings. And now when the tempt get below freezing it does not want to work. This shop had just changed ownership prior to the repairs. I think they cheaped out the parts.
Anyways I bought a new starter with insulated spade connector and extra wire.
The problem is how to remove it.
The manual say you take it out from the top. Well on my car there is no such room to get buy the intake manifold. Also the 3rd bolt is not visible from underneath. It seems I need to remove the Battery and the box to get at the bolts. Can anyone verify this is what I need to do. I want to change it before it gets too cold and snow on the ground here.
It looks like it can be removed from underneath once unbolted.
HELP!

Disconnect the battery ground cable.
Remove the aircleaner outlet tube.
Remove the top 2 starter bolts.
Raise and support the vehicle.
Remove the lower starter bolt.
Remove the starter and solenoid assembly.

(piece of cake)

[gpw]

Just as I thought. Need to remove the battery and the box to get access. Air tube? that has me puzzled.
Will try to get it changed this coming weekend.
Have to work on my truck and my wifes Taurus yet. So little time. So my free days are taken with these projects.

Thanks.

[Davescort97]

The aircleaner outlet tube is the big rubber housing type hose that is between the air cleaner box and the throttle body. You don't have to remove the battery and box unless you would be more comfortable doing so.

[AzTumbleweed]

I've never replaced my starter but I went and looked at it. If I were going to do it I'd try standing on the right side of the car and use a ratchet with a long extension to undo the bolts. Then bring it out from the top on that side.

[gpw]

The problem is the two top bolts thread in from the drivers side or left side of the car.
I guess that was what you meant by air tube, just was not sure. I think I will remove battery box just to make it easier. I removed it before (twice ) to change fuel filters. I think it will give me better and easier access. Thanks again.

[Davescort97]

Don't fight it. Remove the battery and box.

[gpw]

Well it is done. Took an hour and half to change. Removed the air intake hose and battery and battery bx. If you do not remove these you cannot get at the two top bolts. Then underneath disconnect the wiring and the last bolt. The underneath part was easy. The two top bolts even with the box removed you are still work nearly blind to find and get a socket wrench on them. Lots of hoses and wires in the way.
So for anyone else remove what I did above. Just a lot of crawling above and below. Oh I pulled the starter out from the bottom. Manuals say remove from the top. Sorry there is no room to takeout from the top.

[AzTumbleweed]

Thanks for the update and info. I still have original starter at 306,000 miles. (Knock on wood!)

[gpw]

More news on the starter.
two weeks ago after a snow storm. Going through some drifts. Got home it started again. Next morning same problem arose again. Now my 4th starter to burn out.
Yesterday talked with another car nut. He said either my ground/neg. wire is not grounded properly or the positive to the starter is not good. The positive goes to the starter and under the hood fuse box.
Well I found the negative at the firewall does not look very good. But I could not check where it grounded on the motor as is the positive. Right now it is -30 out. So may leave til spring and replace both sets of cables and take starter back under warrenty. It is just so frustrating. 4 starters in a year.

[Davescort97]

4 starters in a year! One good thing. I'll bet you're fast at R&R a starter on a 97 Escort. If the battery ground isn't good on the engine/transmissiion the starter will ground out internally frying itself. Take a DVOM and measure the resistance between the negative battery terminal and the block. If there is more resistance that just a few ohms you need to clean/replace the terminal.

[gpw]

I plan on replacing them here in the spring. The neg. cable I understand grounds under the battery box.
The positive looks like it goes into a harness and will take more work replacing. So I think to be sure I will replace both Pos. And Neg. cables to cover all bases.