Replace starter 2007 3.8 liter
12-15-2014, 12:20 PM
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12-21-2014, 03:36 PM
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Thanks for posting
I used your post changing the starter on my 2008, 130k miles. On the on '08 there is 3 bolts all 5/8". There nut on the starter wire was 13mm, after market starter had 1/2" nut. It was an easy fix, about 45min thanks to your post. The heat shield took about 10 min alone, I didnt want to tear it. Went back on in just a couple minutes. The bolts weren't too long really, 2" I think. Simple rachet and socket for bottom two bolts and with a 4" extention for the upper bolt. My jeep has a lift so I had plenty of room to work with.
So, after searching through the forum, I wasn't able to find any detailed information to help me replace my starter. I am not a mechanic, but I am a DIY'er when I can, so for others like me, here goes my attempt to help you when you want to replace your own starter. This is specifically for a 2007 with the 3.8 liter.
Time: +/- 1 hour
Cost: about $100 with core return from local auto parts store
Tools: ratchet with 5/8, 1/2, and 15mm sockets, and a few different length extensions.
Step 1: Locate the starter! It is not in the most recognizable location and is hidden by a heat shield/sleeve, which makes it difficult to assess how difficult the job will be. I did all of the work from below...too far down to reach from the top of engine.
View from top driver side of engine
Attachment 564077
View from bottom driver side directly above front driveshaft.
Attachment 564075
Step 2: Disconnect the battery to avoid accidental shorting/arcing/grounding while removing the starter.
Step 3: Remove the plastic retainer pin for the heat shield from the center mounting point on starter. The starter has 3 mounting points, but only the top and bottom points are used to mount the starter. The middle simply has the plastic pin to help hold the heat shield in place. It will most likely break from age, so be ready to buy a new one!
Attachment 564078
Step 4: Using the 5/8 socket, remove the bottom bolt (it is a super tight fit with the ratchet and a super long bolt, so be prepared to spend some time here, which is where I used a longer socket extension more distance on each rotation). The heat shield also attaches here with a clip washer and is easier to remove once this bolt is out.
Attachment 564079
Step 5: Using a 15mm socket, remover the top bolt (harder to see, but much shorter, so it comes out much quicker than the bottom).
Attachment 564080
Step 6: Now that the starter is loose, you can more easily see/get to the two wires to disconnect. In my case the small yellow wire simply pulled off. The larger red power wire needed a 1/2 socket to remove the retaining nut.
Attachment 564081
Attachment 564082
Step 7: Maneuver starter out of place and insert new starter. My new starter came with an additional metal heat shield, which made the original heat shield/sleeve tighter when putting back on.
Attachment 564076
Step 8: Thread and begin the top and bottom bolts back on. I left these loose to more easily, reattach the electrical wires.
Step 9: Reattach the two wires. The smaller one simply slide/clips back on and the larger power wire will need to be tightened back down with the 1/2 nut and socket.
Step 10: Continue tightening the top (15mm) and bottom (5/8) nuts (again, this will take some time due to limited space and as mentioned earlier, the socket extensions seemed to help out).
Step 11: Maneuver and slide the heat shield back into place, inserting the metal lock washer/ring onto the bottom bolt and the plastic pin into the middle bolt hole. Because of the additional small heat shield on my new starter, I couldn't get the original heat shield back quite as far to use the plastic pin, but felt the new heat shield was more protection.
Attachment 564083
Hopefully my experience will help any of you first timers!
Time: +/- 1 hour
Cost: about $100 with core return from local auto parts store
Tools: ratchet with 5/8, 1/2, and 15mm sockets, and a few different length extensions.
Step 1: Locate the starter! It is not in the most recognizable location and is hidden by a heat shield/sleeve, which makes it difficult to assess how difficult the job will be. I did all of the work from below...too far down to reach from the top of engine.
View from top driver side of engine
Attachment 564077
View from bottom driver side directly above front driveshaft.
Attachment 564075
Step 2: Disconnect the battery to avoid accidental shorting/arcing/grounding while removing the starter.
Step 3: Remove the plastic retainer pin for the heat shield from the center mounting point on starter. The starter has 3 mounting points, but only the top and bottom points are used to mount the starter. The middle simply has the plastic pin to help hold the heat shield in place. It will most likely break from age, so be ready to buy a new one!
Attachment 564078
Step 4: Using the 5/8 socket, remove the bottom bolt (it is a super tight fit with the ratchet and a super long bolt, so be prepared to spend some time here, which is where I used a longer socket extension more distance on each rotation). The heat shield also attaches here with a clip washer and is easier to remove once this bolt is out.
Attachment 564079
Step 5: Using a 15mm socket, remover the top bolt (harder to see, but much shorter, so it comes out much quicker than the bottom).
Attachment 564080
Step 6: Now that the starter is loose, you can more easily see/get to the two wires to disconnect. In my case the small yellow wire simply pulled off. The larger red power wire needed a 1/2 socket to remove the retaining nut.
Attachment 564081
Attachment 564082
Step 7: Maneuver starter out of place and insert new starter. My new starter came with an additional metal heat shield, which made the original heat shield/sleeve tighter when putting back on.
Attachment 564076
Step 8: Thread and begin the top and bottom bolts back on. I left these loose to more easily, reattach the electrical wires.
Step 9: Reattach the two wires. The smaller one simply slide/clips back on and the larger power wire will need to be tightened back down with the 1/2 nut and socket.
Step 10: Continue tightening the top (15mm) and bottom (5/8) nuts (again, this will take some time due to limited space and as mentioned earlier, the socket extensions seemed to help out).
Step 11: Maneuver and slide the heat shield back into place, inserting the metal lock washer/ring onto the bottom bolt and the plastic pin into the middle bolt hole. Because of the additional small heat shield on my new starter, I couldn't get the original heat shield back quite as far to use the plastic pin, but felt the new heat shield was more protection.
Attachment 564083
Hopefully my experience will help any of you first timers!
04-30-2015, 06:59 PM
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04-30-2015, 07:00 PM
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