QuestionQUESTION: I have exactly the same question
George asked on 11/23/07. Your answer is exactly what my repair manual says. However, my starter would have to be half its size to fit down between the engine and frame. And I can back it out far enough to clear the housing...I need 1/4 inch more!
Carlton
ANSWER: Hi Carlton,
Sorry, but I don't remember George or his car nor my answer in 11/07 so you are going to have to remind me what kind of car George had and your book covered. But if my answer and your book say the same thing and I didn't write the book then at least two of us think you can take it out between the engine and the frame. That means that either we are talking about a different car, or there is something different about your car or starter. First loosen your motor mounts (only loosen don't take any bolts all the way out) then put a wooden block under the pan and jack the engine up just a little and pry it over to one side to see if the starter will come out that way. If it does come out, don't even remind me of what kind of car you and George have as 8 or 9 months from now I won't remember you asking me anyway. I do not mean to make light of your problem, only of my memory of George's problem or my memory itself.
Howard
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I'm sorry, Howard. I was mistakenly thinking that this was the clearest way to reask, referencing the archive for you. Here is George's question:
"How is the starter motor removed on a 1500?
The oil pressure switch (hope it is an original)
doesn't let me pull the motor as back as it would need
so that I can free the front side of it from the flywheel.
If alternatively I move the motor counterclockwise ,still
there is not enough clearance in the flywheel-bell housing
area. It seems that the front part of the motor is too long, or I am too stupid."
I would just add that mine has left hand steering. There is nothing modified about the engine or the frame to my (limited) knowledge, but the starter motor simply cannot drop down between them, nor can I back it out far enough to swing the extension clear of the housing and swing it up. I think I've had the darn thing out before--without loosening the engine as you suggest--but for the life of me, I can't solve this puzzle now.
Thanks for giving me an idea to think about though.
Carlton
AnswerCarlton, I have had to take a lot of things off to get to other things as I was a mechanic on many different brands of car over the years and many I took a lot of stuff off that I didn't need to until I found a better way. Something isn't normal with that car or it would have come out like the book says so you may just have to keep removing until you get it out.
You would know what I mean if you try to remove a clutch from an "E Type" Jaguar, a subframe mount from the front of the rear subframe of an MG 1100 Sedan, rear caliper off of a series III XJ-6 Jaguar, an oil filter off of a 2 liter Chevy Citation or pull an engine out of a 2003 "X Type Jaguar.
Car maunfactures build a car in a manner that fits their assembly procedures and usually never consider the repair of that car and when you add something different into that mix, it can get frustrating. So you need to just start removing things until you get it out and maybe then you will find what has been changed on this car to make it more difficult than normal.
Howard
