How to Install a Starter Motor in a Mazda 626

The starter motor, small but mighty, turns the flywheel in an attempt to set the engine on your 626 in motion. When the starter fails, the engine will not run at all. Damage to the starter motor most often happens from a weak drive assembly thrust spring. This causes the starter to disengage itself from the flywheel too soon, before it effectively starts the engine. Replacing the drive mechanism within your starter can also be done. However, the amount of work required proves nonproductive compared to just installing a new starter entirely. On the Mazda 626, the starter mounts beneath the car on the driver’s side next to the flywheel. With the proper tools, this repair should take you 35 minutes.

Things You'll Need:

• Socket wrench set
• Hydraulic jack
• 2 jack stands
• White painter’s tape
• Flexible socket wrench extension
• 3/8-inch drive torque wrench

1. Raise the hood on your 626 and locate the car battery

Raise the hood on your 626 and locate the car battery. Remove the negative cable from the battery with a socket wrench and position the cable away from the battery. The negative post on the battery is easily identified by the small (-) minus symbol on the battery’s case.

2. Engage the emergency brake

Engage the emergency brake and then raise the front end of the car with a suitable hydraulic jack. Place a jack stand under the frame rail on both sides of the car, then slowly lower the car down onto the jack stands.

3. Locate the starter beneath the car

Locate the starter beneath the car. It looks like a metal tube that has a smaller tube connected to it with wires coming out of it. The smaller of the two is the solenoid.

4. Label each of the wires clearly

Label each of the wires clearly with white painter’s tape connected to the solenoid. You should see three wires in total. Two wires are held in place by nuts and the other one is a push-on wire.

5. Remove the push-on wire first by grasping it at its connector

Remove the push-on wire first by grasping it at its connector and then by pulling it straight off the solenoid. Loosen and remove the two nuts holding the other wires in place, then take them off the solenoid’s studs.

6. Remove the two nuts and two bolts holding the intake manifold bracket in place

Remove the two nuts and two bolts holding the intake manifold bracket in place with a socket wrench. Place the bracket to the side of your work area. Put the two nuts and two bolts in your pocket.

7. Remove the two starter mounting bolts

Remove the two starter mounting bolts on the top of the starter at its base with a socket wrench. The innermost mounting bolt may be tough to get to with your socket wrench. Therefore, you may have to connect a flexible extension to your socket wrench to remove the bolt.

8. Brace the starter motor with your free hand

Brace the starter motor with your free hand and begin loosening the bottom starter mounting bolt. Once the bolt is loose enough to remove, do so, then place both hands on the starter motor and carefully lower it down from its mounting position.

9. Install your new starter motor

Install your new starter motor on the 626 by reversing the removal process.

10. Tighten the starter mounting bolts

Tighten the starter mounting bolts to 32 ft-lbs. with a 3/8-inch drive torque wrench. The intake manifold’s two nuts should be tightened to 15 ft-lbs. and 35 ft-lbs. for the two bolts. The solenoid’s two nuts need only be snug enough that the wires can’t move around freely.

Tips

During any starter motor repair, you should always thoroughly check all of the wires leading to the starter for damage. Rusted or corroded wires will prevent the starter motor from working correctly. If damaged wires either don’t get cleaned or replaced, the risk of damaging the new starter is just as certain as the sun coming up tomorrow.

Video showing How to Replace Your Starter:

Comments on this video:

• I changed the alternator myself about a month ago, tomorrow I will try the starter. Wish me luck, sure saves a lot of money when you do it yourself.
• Good video. Always like to try doing it myself.