5 hrs of hell and I have removed all the fasteners from the starter motor. Car would

[nfs1000f]

did not start yesterday so I thought I would DIY. Problem now is I cannot get the starter maneuvered out of the confines where it is mounted. I thought I read other members who were able to remove the starter w/out messing with engine mount. Will give it a go tomorrow.

Dealer wanted 700+ for refurb and 1000+ for new motor. Oddly there were no symptoms leading up to when it stopped. After all this I hope it is in fact the starter.

One of the fasteners easiest for me to get off, which proved very difficult for others from the searches I did, was the plastic connector at the very top. I found the tab, pushed on it and it came right off. Where I spent alot of time was trying to get the cable off the terminal on top next to the plastic connector. It wasn't until after I removed the plastic connector did I see I could now remove the wire. The 2 mounting bolts also took awhile because they were torqued on good. I used my legs by placing a foot on the wrench and pushing for all it was worth.

[jfunkey]

ya bro sorry to see all that hastle.. For me.. I found you really need to jack up that one side off the sub frame to get a better angle to remove it..

[rlee6462]

Is there a diy for the removal and installation of the starter? I have to do mine next week.

[nfs1000f]

Is there a diy for the removal and installation of the starter? I have to do mine next week.

Here is what I used.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ht=starter+diy

[nfs1000f]

ya bro sorry to see all that hastle.. For me.. I found you really need to jack up that one side off the sub frame to get a better angle to remove it..

What is involved to do it that way? I assume the side to jack up is the passenger side.

[dannslc]

Where did you guys find a good deal on your new starters? Rlee did you get one here in the cities? I to have to do mine asap. Those start delays are getting longer and longer everyday. damn it.

[SuperAvant]

If you unscrew the solenoid from the motor those gives more than enough room to wiggle the assembly around to fit.

[rlee6462]

Where did you guys find a good deal on your new starters? Rlee did you get one here in the cities? I to have to do mine asap. Those start delays are getting longer and longer everyday. damn it.

I know what you mean, so I ordered mine asap! I got mine from JHM. My buddy is a mechanic, and looked up the part and his cost was like $560. JHM was half that. I think there are cheaper ones out there, but I trust JHM's quality, so I went with them.
http://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catalo...216df0a52f9946

[halik]

did not start yesterday so I thought I would DIY. Problem now is I cannot get the starter maneuvered out of the confines where it is mounted. I thought I read other members who were able to remove the starter w/out messing with engine mount. Will give it a go tomorrow.

Dealer wanted 700+ for refurb and 1000+ for new motor. Oddly there were no symptoms leading up to when it stopped. After all this I hope it is in fact the starter.

One of the fasteners easiest for me to get off, which proved very difficult for others from the searches I did, was the plastic connector at the very top. I found the tab, pushed on it and it came right off. Where I spent alot of time was trying to get the cable off the terminal on top next to the plastic connector. It wasn't until after I removed the plastic connector did I see I could now remove the wire. The 2 mounting bolts also took awhile because they were torqued on good. I used my legs by placing a foot on the wrench and pushing for all it was worth.

I had to remove the mount to get the starter out even with the motor out the car...

[nfs1000f]

What is involved in removing the mount?

[dannslc]

JHM's price is quite good but is it agod idea to buy another OEM starter anyway? I know we have limited options here but look at how the OEM has let us ALL down!

[nfs1000f]

did not start yesterday so I thought I would DIY. Problem now is I cannot get the starter maneuvered out of the confines where it is mounted. I thought I read other members who were able to remove the starter w/out messing with engine mount. Will give it a go tomorrow.

Finally got starter out this morning. Had to remove solenoid. Even though it can be considered job only half done, I think the install will go better. I hope I don't f**k up the new starter installing it. Most of the searches I did prior to doing this job came up with people with with B6's who did it themselves and didn't seem to have the difficulty I did. Is the B7 different?

[rlee6462]

JHM's price is quite good but is it agod idea to buy another OEM starter anyway? I know we have limited options here but look at how the OEM has let us ALL down!

It may be oem, but I think it is a better starter. I don't believe our cars come stock with a valeo starter.

[dannslc]

yep, woke up today to head over to cars and coffee and sure enough NO START. Tried for 25 mins, usually it would have cranked on the 4-5 try. I think it got down to around 38 last night. She's done, new starter ordered!

[rlee6462]

yep, woke up today to head over to cars and coffee and sure enough NO START. Tried for 25 mins, usually it would have cranked on the 4-5 try. I think it got down to around 38 last night. She's done, new starter ordered!

Where did you order it from?

[g35mt]

So was it the starter that is the culprit? If it is, glad you got it going.

[dannslc]

I ordered it from JHM. It is definetly a better price. I did manage to get the car going today though. It needed to sit out in the warm sun for a few hours. Its like a crocodile. haha. what an ahole.

[rlee6462]

I ordered it from JHM. It is definetly a better price. I did manage to get the car going today though. It needed to sit out in the warm sun for a few hours. Its like a crocodile. haha. what an ahole.

lol!

[dannslc]

Finally got starter out this morning. Had to remove solenoid. Even though it can be considered job only half done, I think the install will go better. I hope I don't f**k up the new starter installing it. Most of the searches I did prior to doing this job came up with people with with B6's who did it themselves and didn't seem to have the difficulty I did. Is the B7 different?

So man whats the status? You get it all together yet? Hope its all good. I'm taking this job on at the end of this week. I'm scared haha

[rlee6462]

So man whats the status? You get it all together yet? Hope its all good. I'm taking this job on at the end of this week. I'm scared haha

My buddy is doing mine this coming up weekend, and through his mechanics "how to" guide, it has a lot work and calls for 5 hours. I'm hoping that it isn't that big of a job.

[nfs1000f]

So man whats the status? You get it all together yet? Hope its all good. I'm taking this job on at the end of this week. I'm scared haha

I am only ordering starter today. Did lots of research and found JHM the best source. I had thought about Parts Geek, but saw after a Google search that the customer service was suspect. I called 3 times to ask a question and to order and never spoke to anyone. I can only imagine what would happen if I had an issue or tried to get my core charge refunded. I have found no issues mentioned on this forum however. The starter from Parts Geek is half the price, but I have learned all to often the least expensive route is not always the best. Assuming I get the starter late this week, early next week I will post the results when I am done. I admit I am dreading the install based on how long it took to get it out. Once I removed the solenoid the starter came right out. Installing the solonoid after the starter has been re- installed will be very difficult considering the confines of the engine area I have to work in. May give in and pay someone to do it. That is assuming I can drive the car w/out the starter.

[rlee6462]

I'm paying my buddy the mechanic to do it, but it calls for special tools and to mount the engine up with special brackets which he doesn't have, so we are going to have to do the diy way.

[nfs1000f]

I'm paying my buddy the mechanic to do it, but it calls for special tools and to mount the engine up with special brackets which he doesn't have, so we are going to have to do the diy way.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. I hope you don't have the difficulty getting it out as I did.

[joeycuccaro]

Anyone thats needs a starter i have a used one that is good. Cheap compared to new.

Anyway, here are some pictures for reference. Gives you a better idea of what you have to work with.

Alternator and Starter



Close-up of Starter



Starter bolts go through trans (when trans is attached)



Try what jfunkey recommended by unbolting the passenger side motor mount and jacking that side of the motor up for clearance.

[sappermk2]

I ordered it from JHM. It is definetly a better price. I did manage to get the car going today though. It needed to sit out in the warm sun for a few hours. Its like a crocodile. haha. what an ahole.

Same price and starter from dealer with "discount" for being a tech... but would rather give JHM my buisness than dealer.

[rlee6462]

Here are some pics of how I replaced my starter. It only took 2.5 hours to do, and seemed fairly easy...of course it was done by a trained mechanic...who is my friend.

Motor mount and other piece removed to allow more space.


Starter Removed. It is a Valeo starter.


This is where we went in and of the starter removed.


Look at the space to work with.


This is how we kept the motor in place after removing the motor mount.


New starter in.

[nfs1000f]

So man whats the status? You get it all together yet? Hope its all good. I'm taking this job on at the end of this week. I'm scared haha

Got it all back together and it works. Total time was maybe 8 hrs. I chose not to remove engine mounts but rather remove solenoid. If I had to do it again I could get it done in maybe 4 hrs.