Installing a new starter--A pictorial comedy
 

Pic 01 -- The answer is from the top.

Pic 02 -- A closer view of the now "de-energized welding terminals". That's gonna be some close work.

Installing a new starter--A pictorial comedy
 

Meanwhile, back in the basement, let's start disconnecting stuff.

Pic 0 -- Where the starter engages the engine...

Pic 01 -- Revealed! Nice to see that the sound wasn't the teeth on the flywheel being ground to dust.

Installing a new starter--A pictorial comedy
 

Ok. Turned some wrenches, and I have the starter out. Thankfully, I didn't have to take the exhaust pipes off, but the starter scraped on both sides between the exhaust pipe and the oil pan. Who cares, it's out, and it feels good to stand up again. Let's get the new starter installed.


Pic 01 -- Here's another picture of the engine bay. You can tell I've been working in here because you can see (from left to right) my coffee cup on the battery, my keys on the air cleaner, my phone, flashlight, hammer (told you it was a tight fit) and ratchet, all under the hood. But. I don't remember any of that other stuff messing up my nice clean engine.

Pic 02 -- What is that white stuff in this close up?

Installing a new starter--A pictorial comedy
 

Pic 01 -- Remember that southern sky a couple of hours ago?

Pic 02 -- That's where all that white stuff is coming from. Yes, I caught a particularly juicy snowflake in my (camera's) eye.

Installing a new starter--A pictorial comedy
 

Pic 02 -- RETREAT!

Pic 01 -- This is not going to end well. You can see the old starter, my toolbox, the creeper, soon to become the sled, and the hood, acting as an ENORMOUS scoop, collecting all that northbound snow. Shit shit shit.

Installing a new starter--A pictorial comedy
 

Pic 01 -- The camera got a chance to dry out a little, and I got a chance to get another HOT cup of coffee.

Pic 02 -- Back to work. It was just too cold/wet/miserable/handsfull to take more pictures under the car, despite the fact that it was the best cover I had. Imagine this part with lots of cussing and hammering and wishing I had a third hand to run that bolt in while I held it up and straight with the other two.

Installing a new starter--A pictorial comedy
 

Pic 01 -- *Finally* got the wire on the terminal, and the washer (the second washer, who knows where the first one went), AND the nut. This is a major victory. Remember, for removal, I had to unbolt the starter, then take the cables off. In reverse, for installation, that means connecting the cables, like you see here, then bolting the starter fast. But what do you think is holding up the starter while I'm trying to attach these cables? Not the bolts. Friction. A piece of wood. Some paper towels (they're blue, you can see them under the hood somewhere). And plenty of luck. It's just on finger tight. You can see the tab on the cable is not in its locating slot. Yet.

Pic 02 -- By the time I got an actual wrench on this nut (and another one for the main power to the starter) you can see plenty of snow had accumulated. Just miserable. Cold and stiff and weary. But tight at last. You can see this solenoid is silver where the old one was black, and you can see the locating tab is seated deeply in the slot.

Installing a new starter--A pictorial comedy
 

Pic 01 -- Having successfully connected the starter cables, I allowed myself the luxury of some scenic pictures. Oh, look. My blue shop towels and my safety yellow flashlight. Even my damn coffee mug is covered with snow.

Pic 02 -- Look at my tools, willya?

Installing a new starter--A pictorial comedy
 

Pic 01 -- Time to fire her up. Crap! Where are my keys?!

Pic 02 -- Hiding in a snowbank, naturally.

Installing a new starter--A pictorial comedy
 

Pic 01 -- BigV (photo by Tink)

Pic 02 -- BigV and Tink (photo by BigV)

Installing a new starter--A pictorial comedy
 

Now the players have left the stage

Pic 01 -- Starter's gone.

Pic 02 -- Car's gone. Under its own power, I might add!

I'm impressed that you hung in there and finished under those conditions. Well done.

V you are a crazy person. :cool:

You could have closed the hood while you retreated... or thrown a tarp over the whole mess.

Better yet, bought a car designed by car guys, not MBAs, from a company that doesn't have a lying CEO that contributes to the Bush campaign.

A properly designed car doesn't need a starter. Biggie is clearly unpatriotic.