Posted in 328 section, no takers, so will try you all here... Hello all, having a problem getting the starter out...details: * '89 328 * car is jacked up, then I removed left rear wheel and fiberglass wheel well shield. * can barely see parts of the starter from here or from directly underneath the car. * can barely touch the starter, much less do anything to it. * have no idea how to get access to the starter to remove wires and bolts. * not sure which 'two bolts' to remove. What am I missing here?? I've done starters before, but that was on cars with reasonably good access, nothing like this. Kinda ignorant on this one... HELP!
The starter mounting bolts are labeled "2" in this 328 SPC figure, and are accessed from the LH side of the engine bay (there are three of them). It is an extremely tight area so you might need to remove some combination of the alternator (and diptick tube) and/or the various heat shields to actually withdraw the stater assembly. Good hunting! Image Unavailable, Please Login
aha! Mucho thanks, Steve...I saw bolt #2, but couldn't get a good enough read to be sure about it, and previous experience has taught me to NOT disassemble everything first Also, I see in your diagram what appears to be a heat shield(lower right) that covers the starter, so will take a look at removing that for easier access. Based upon other threads I've read, it would appear that removing the alternator isn't necessary. Thanks again...
Ok, got the damn thing out...few pointers for those of us who ain't pros at this sort of thing: * to get better access from underneath the car, remove a foot long cover that will expose a positive(+) disconnect that is there to disconnect the power cable if pulling the engine. This cover is inbound from the left wheel well about two feet, literally staring you in the face if you're underneath the car. 10mm here. Pics in this thread: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=215920 Go ahead and tug forcefully, if needed, on the orange connectors to get 'em apart. Clean contacts if crudded up. * once you have better access, you need to disconnect the wires from the starter itself. There is a rubber boot covering the main cluster, so remove the tie down, remove the rubber boot, and use a 13mm socket or small wrench to get at that one. Another wire or two that pull loose easily, and you're ready to remove. * per Steve's note above, there are THREE 13mm bolts that hold the starter in place, not TWO as mentioned in some other threads that came up when I did a search earlier. So, the reason to remove the left rear wheel & wheel well shell are to have access to the three bolts. The rest can pretty much be done from underneath the car. Ignore my comment farther above about the heat shield, as it doesn't matter here. Unfortunately, it appears I have a dead starter, so will either rebuild it, or more likely, just get one of the replacement starters that seem to be running around $400 or so. Not sure when I'll get around to it, could be a few weeks, schedule permitting. Btw, the starter is Bosch stuff, here's a thread with some very nice pics and comparison between the stock unit and the smaller replacement starter: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214235
