I replaced the battery. Now the starter. 95 Taurus. Any tips on installation for a rookie? Any particular type I should buy? Autozone ok?
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Advice: Disconnect the battery. Wires to the starter are live.
Usually the ground cable is very hard to get off.
Be sure to break the outer nut first, otherwise you will twist the cable off. Or just cut the cable and put a new end on it.
To avoid the problem again put a washer on between the lug and the nut.
Be sure to break the outer nut first, otherwise you will twist the cable off. Or just cut the cable and put a new end on it.
To avoid the problem again put a washer on between the lug and the nut.
Starters and alternators are a funny thing. I've had them rebuilt, bought them rebuilt, and bought them new, and you just never know what you're going to get dependability-wise. Doing it myself, I wouldn't go to Auto Zone, I'd want a nice new Bosch, even if I had to wait a day for it. Of course, if you need it fixed NOW, you buy it where you can get it, but it's a dirty job, I'd want the best one to install to begin with.
Good Luck
Good Luck
I would get one from the junkyard before I got a reman from Autozone. www.car-part.com listings up to around 1997 will work. You may get lucky and find a good low mileage unit. Usually starters are not all that labor intensive but not sure about the Taurus.
Went at it today. I guess just like everything, you need the tools. A buddy gave me a wrench with a knuckle and some rachet wrenches which were helpful. It was the original starter so the bolts were awful to get off. What a battle I had. Not much room to work, it was close to the oil filter and just moving one tick at a time on the rachet wrench. I couldn't get any leverage. It looked like it wasn't bad but after I took two main bolts out there was another nut on it. It was a mess so obviously harder to make determinations on what was where. I didn't have the new starter with me so I didn't really know what I was even taking out. (Yikes!) There were two wires to take off. One was with the bolt. (Relatively easy) The other wier was stuck on there good, like a little clip, ending up wedging it off with a screw driver.
So I have to buy one tomorrow. Buddy said at Advanced he would give me a brand new starter for 122, reman for 118. Duralast at AZ for 119 lifetime war. Any other brands I should look for? Would like to get 4 more years or so out of it.
So I have to buy one tomorrow. Buddy said at Advanced he would give me a brand new starter for 122, reman for 118. Duralast at AZ for 119 lifetime war. Any other brands I should look for? Would like to get 4 more years or so out of it.
Get some dielectric grease, schmeer it on all the connections, it'll last a little longer that way..
If you think you can get it off easier next time, put the cheapest one there is on it. It's a tossup anyway. If it's a hassle you really don't want to face again, buy a new Bosch, call it a day..
Of course, even a new one can go bad early, but it's less likely than a reman.
Good luck!
Of course, even a new one can go bad early, but it's less likely than a reman.
Good luck!
Ditto. But if you do go to AZ get the lifetime warranty and DO NOT loose the receipt. Same goes for Advance Auto. I went through several alternators and starters before I got a good one. This is on a few different cars too. I suspect the reason is that they rebuild old units as cheap as possible, or more correctly, the rebuild only the failed component in the old unit. For example, somebody turns in a core alternator or starter thats bad. It could be two or 20 years old. The rebuilder finds the bearings are bad. He replaces the bearings, cleans it up, tests it and ships it out to the AZ or AA wharehouse. You buy it, and a month later the diode pack goes out. So you return it under warranty for another unit.
So you see how this could be a never ending cycle, hence all the stories you'll hear.
Of course AZ and AA will never admit this.
Or I could be wrong.
And get some PB Blaster to spray on nuts and bolts that are, or that you think may be, stuck and hard to remove. Spray it on. Wait a day if you can, and remove the fastener. Or at least wait an hour or two. On some nuts I've sprayed it 3 times over a 24-hour period before attempting to remove them.
I had an Autozone starter and alternator(s). Two of the three mounting bolt brackets cracked on the starter about 3 months after it was put on and it never quite engaged correctly. I went through 3 alternators in 3 years as well. Never again.
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