Changing Starter Solenoid on a 3100 (94GP)

[jeremy]

anyone have any instructions/writeup on how to do this? The car will start if you jumper the solenoid terminals, so the solenoid itself is bad, right?

 

thanks in advance

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

Maybe it's just got a bad connection from the positive on the battery to the aux terminal, or the aux terminal to the starter. Often that stupid bolt on the aux terminal is just a LITTLE lose on my car (and others, ask Discostudd) causing no start just a "click".

[jeremy]

I know that it is possible. The guy that has a car that I am looking at says that it has a bad solenoid and you have to "jumper" the terminals to get the car to start. So I am trying to figure out how to replace this and how difficult it is on a 3100 incase I decide I want the car and the solenoid is actually bad

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

Hmm well I thought it's part of the starter (if you go to the junkyard for a solenoid they'd just give you the whole thing..) and IIRC when I searched for my starter on NAPA it was part listed down to 1990 3.1.. I may be wrong though.

[jeremy]

you should be able to replace just the solenoid....[br]Posted on: April 14, 2006, 12:41:48 PM_________________________________________________bump.....anyone even have a write-up on changing the starter itself?[br]Posted on: April 15, 2006, 11:49:47 AM_________________________________________________bump...

[cutlsp]

i had to remove my solenoid on my 2.8 starter to even get the damn starter in place. So if its anything like mine its 2 bolts holding it on to the starter assembly then you slightly rotate the solenoid to get it off.

[jeremy]

below is the starter removal procedure for the 3.1L from the service manual

 

1. Remove air cleaner

2. Disconnect Neg. cable at battery

3. Raise the vehicle and suitably suppport. Refer to GENERAL INFO. (SECTION 0A)

- With engine oil cooler

A. Drain pan under engine oil pan

B. Oil Filter

C. Position hose next to the starter motor aside

4. Remove bolts from flyweel inspection cover

5. Remove inspection cover

6. Remove nut from brace at A/C Compressor

7. Remove nut brom brace at engine and brace

8. Remove starter mounting bolts

9 Remove motor and shims (if used)

10. Remove electrical connection from starter.

 

 

Do I really have to remove all that shit to change the starter??

[19Cutlass94]

Shouldnt have to.

[cutlsp]

i did it the easy way remove the solenoid then twisted and turned the starter till it came out then used the reverse method to get it back in......

[jeremy]

i did it the easy way remove the solenoid then twisted and turned the starter till it came out then used the reverse method to get it back in......

 

I hope that I can get it out without doing removing all that shit....it has been YEARS since I replaced a starter on a 60*

[cutlsp]

good luck before pulling the starter i would check the solenoid out but thats just me

[jeremy]

good luck before pulling the starter i would check the solenoid out but thats just me

 

that's the only thing I actually plan on replacing...they guy says that if you "jump" the solenoid that the starter will start the car. I haven't done it in so long that I was thinking that to get to the solenoid that I had to take the starter itself out too

[cutlsp]

you might be able to slide the starter out and rotate it to get the solenoid off easier. I just forget the size of the bolts that hold the solenoid on because its been 2 years since I played with my car's starter......

[99RegalGS]

Wait. If he's able to start the car just by jumping the terminals the solenoid IS working properly. There's something wrong in the ignition switch "start" circut. Like... wiring, the switch itself, the p/n (or range switch), etc....

[jeremy]

it's a moot point anyway, I went and looked at the car and it is too much of a project for me, I would be better of fixing the STE

[SleeperRed90TGp]

What exactly do you mean by jumping the starter. That could mean anything. Makes a big difference. If you can apply 12v to the small terminal with the wire on it and it cranks it's not your solenoid. It's a bad connection or a broken wire as has been said.

You need to be clearer on what you are doing to start the car. attaching what to what? Jumpers from another car? And so on.

 

You can also push your motor back instead of forward to gain some access. This gets it away from the frame.

 

If you do find that the solenoid is bad an easy fix is to remove the back plastic cap and take the round disc and rotate it 180*. That’s of course if your contact stud is ok.

 

Jud