How to Replace a Starter on a 1998 Mustang
by John Stevens J.D.Whether equipped with the 3.6-liter, six-cylinder engine or with the 4.6-liter, eight-cylinder engine, the 1998 Mustang was equipped with a single starter motor. The sole purpose of the starter is to turn the engine fast enough for the engine's ignition system to start the engine. A defective starter motor is indicative of a worn starter clutch. Although it may be impractical to rebuild the starter, replacing the starter with a new unit is fairly straightforward, and the process is the same regardless of the type of engine.
Step 1
Raise the front of the Mustang with a jack. Position the vehicle on jack stands placed underneath the frame.
Step 2
Locate the starter motor on the passenger's side of the engine, where the engine attaches to the transmission.
Step 3
Tag the wiring with masking tape to avoid incorrectly installing the wires upon reassembly.
Step 4
Disconnect the wiring at the starter by using a deep-set socket wrench to remove the nuts that secure the wires against the starter motor.
Step 5
Unfasten the starter's two mounting bolts with a socket wrench. Lower the starter out of the transmission's bellhousing.
Step 6
Position the new starter motor against the transmission's bellhousing, ensuring the mounting bolts on the starter align with the holes on the bellhousing.
Step 7
Install and tighten the starter's two mounting bolts with a socket wrench.
Step 8
Position the starter's wires onto their threaded rods. Install and tighten the nuts with a socket wrench.
Step 9
Peel the tape pieces off the wires. Lower the car to the ground.
References
- "Haynes Repair Manual: Ford Mustang 1994 thru 1999"; Robert Maddox and John Haynes; 2000
Things You'll Need
- Jack
- Jack stands
- Masking tape
- Deep-set socket wrench
Writer Bio
John Stevens has been a writer for various websites since 2008. He holds an Associate of Science in administration of justice from Riverside Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from California State University, San Bernardino, and a Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School. Stevens is a lawyer and licensed real-estate broker.
