How to Locate the Starter in Vehicles

The starter on the Vehicles is a motor that is connected to the battery that runs the ignition process of the Vehicles. When you turn the key to start the Vehicles this will send an electrical signal to the starter motor that turns the flywheel. The flywheel in turns moves the crankshaft. When the starter goes bad or teeth on the starter gear get chipped this will prevent the Vehicles from starting. Locating the starter is the first step in replacing it.

Under The Hood:

• How to Locate the Starter in GMC Conversion Vans
• How to Locate the Starter on a Lincoln Town Car
• How to Locate the Starter on a 2000 Nissan Frontier

 How to Locate the Starter in GMC Conversion Vans

Park the van on a level surface and turn off its ignition.

Raise the front of the van using a jack and install jack stands under the frame. Lower the van onto the stands, ensuring it is securely on the stands.

Shine a flashlight under the passenger's side under the engine where the transmission bolts to the engine. Locate the black, round starter bolted to the engine block behind the exhaust pipe as it leaves the engine.

Verify the component by locating a heavy cable coming directly from the battery that supplies power to the starter, as well as smaller wires going into the starter that control the operation.

Jack up, remove the jack stands and lower the van.

 How to Locate the Starter on a Lincoln Town Car

Removing the Starter

Park your Lincoln Town Car on a level surface.

Disable the air suspension by turning off the system switch. Depending on your particular model, you may find this switch in the luggage compartment or in the right kick panel area.

Open the hood and disconnect the negative battery cable using a wrench.

Raise the front of your Lincoln Town Car using a floor jack and safely support it on two jack stands. Then chock the rear wheels.

Locate the starter motor, working from underneath your vehicle. The motor is mounted right next to the engine where it joins the transmission.

Remove the cover from the solenoid. This is the small cylinder mounted on top of the starter motor. Use a wrench or ratchet and socket.

Detach the transmission cooler lines bracket from the engine block to move the lines out of the way and give yourself enough room to remove the starter, if necessary. Use the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.

Disconnect the wire and battery cable from the solenoid using a wrench or ratchet and socket.

Unscrew the three starter mounting bolts using a wrench or ratchet, ratchet extension and socket. The starter is a somewhat heavy and awkward component to handle from underneath. As you remove the bolts, hold the starter with one hand to keep the starter from falling to the ground or on yourself.

Remove the starter from the vehicle.

Installing the Starter

Hold the new starter in its installed position with one hand.

Start the three mounting bolts with your other hand. Then tighten the mounting bolts using the wrench or ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.

Connect the wire and battery cable to the starter solenoid using the wrench or ratchet and socket.

Attach the transmission cooler lines bracket to the engine block if you had to remove it. Use the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.

Reinstall the cover on the starter solenoid using the wrench or ratchet and socket.

Lower the vehicle and remove the chocks from the rear tires.

Connect the negative battery cable using the wrench.

Enable the air suspension by turning on the switch.

 How to Locate the Starter on a 2000 Nissan Frontier

Open the hood to access the engine compartment. Locate the battery to the passenger side of the engine compartment.

Identify the positive terminal of the battery. This will be indicated by the (+) symbol above the terminal.

Trace the red cable that is attached to the positive terminal. The cable will run from the battery down to the side of the motor.

Locate the end of the red cable as it is attached to the starter. The starter will be attached to a bracket by the motor with the back of the starter connected to the bell housing of the transmission.

Remove the front passenger side tire for easier access to the starter. This will also give you plenty of room to remove the starter.