6 replies to this topic

[petersterncan]

Hi everone...

Earlier this past week, I was at a gas station filling up (at $1.08... ouch), get in my car and try to start it... *click*... try it again ... *click* ... after about 10 attempts ( a new record), the starter kicks in and the car starts right up.

Alright. No more procrastination.

Yesterday I finally got around to installing the $25 starter that's been sitting in my trunk for a couple of weeks.

First thing to say is that there was no problem with replacing my original Nippon-Denso starter with the Mitsuba unit.

The Mitsuba sounds a little different but works just fine.

As I look at the 'Starter Replacement' section in the shop manual, I'd have to say as an amateur, it looks really simple.

But I thought I'd put together the list of *all* the steps to replace a starter for the average amateur such as myself.

1. Note the symptom (starter that clicks instead of turning over engine sometimes) and search RPR boards and the online shop manual and diagnose the likely problem (the starter)
2. Change into old dirty clothes and check the wiring that goes to the starter and see if there are any bad connections
3. Wash hands
4. Hands still dirty. Wash again.
5. Clean the now filthy sink and put dirty clothes in the laundry (failure to do this can lead to non-automotive "problems")
6. Log on to RPR and investigate how to change a starter
7. Discover that there are different types of starters. Print out pictures of different starter types that could be in my car
8. Put on old clothes
9. Compare starter to picture and see if I can read a label that would indicate the make of the starter
10. Drat. The whole starter is covered with grease and other crap from a past oil leak There was a label, but it's so old, it just flakes off. But judging by the shape, determine that it is a Nippon-Denso model
11. Wash hands, clean sink, put clothes in laundry
12. Search internet for Nippon-Denso starter. Come across a really good site:
http://www.car-part.com/
13. Order starter for $25 plus $25 shipping. Briefly consider driving close to Niagara Falls (1 hour drive each way) to pick it up, but decide against it due being busy with other things.
14. Part arrives, unpack it, discover it is made by CME. Internet search reveals that CME=Mitsuba.
15. Fret about having an incompatible part.
16. Log on to RPR. Ask more knowledgable board members if installing Mitsuba starter is okay when the original was Nippon-Denso
17. Based on responses, determine that it is likely the Mitsuba starter will work.
18. Put on old clothes
19. compare bolt locations and electrical connections. Also determine what length of ratchet extension I'll need. Also check if I have the correct size of socket.
20. Wash hands, clean sink, put clothes in laundry
21. Buy two sizes of ratchet extensions that I didn't have.
22. Procrastinate
23. Procrastinate. Problem is now worse and making me a bit nervous.
24. Canada Day. I live in a condo and you're not allowed to do work on your car in your parking spot, so.... drive to 'Omi's' house with wife and kids.
25. Have coffee and rhubarb pie with wife and Omi (Omi is the German slang for 'Grandmother') while the kids play in the back yard and the engine cools off. My son finds a grasshopper and it very interested in it. This leads to about 30 minutes of "gentle trauma" for the grasshopper. My son also discovers he likes to eat fresh dill. My daugher enjoys scooping water out of a small swimming pool and watering the grass and trees.
26. Walk to "Nana & Grandpa's" house with the wife and kids (which is next to a park where we will watch the Canada Day fireworks)
27. My son is getting tired of walking. We take a break at a park (which is on the way) and go on the see-saw for a bit.
28. Get to Nana's and Grandpa's house. Almost suppertime. No supper is planned. Decide to avoid "hungry child explosions" and walk to a nearby pizza place.
29. get rained on during walk
30. order pizza. takes 20 minutes. Go to bank during wait.
31. They screw up my order. Correct pizza made after another 20 minute wait
32. Leave pizza place. The rain has let up. Ah, some good luck.
33. Rain starts again on way back. Use pizza box as an umbrella.
34. Arrive back at Nana's and Grandpa's. Find everyone eating porkchops, rice and vegetables. Pizza was unnecessary. I eat Pizza and porkchops.
35. Walk back to Omi's house with umbrella. Engine should be nice and cool now. Rain lets up just as I arrive.
36.put on old clothes
37. Get ready to remove battery. It starts to rain again.
38. Move Omi's car to front of garage. Move nose of my car into garage. Rain lets up after I do this.
39. Take new-old starter out of trunk along with tools
39. Remove battery
40. Disconnect Electrical connections on starter
41. Unbolt starter (easier than I expected)
42. Pull out starter
43. Put in new-old starter and bolt in (easier than I expected)
44. Hook up electrical connections to starter
45. Reinstall battery
46. Start car. SUCCESS!!!
47. Talked to my sister (who just stopped by) and bragged how I just turned a $400+ repair into a $25 repair (yep, I exaggerated).
48. Put tools and old starter in trunk.
49. Wash hands several times, clean filthy sink, change clothes. Put dirty clothes in trunk.
50. Drive to Nana's and Grandpa's house - just in time for the fireworks
51. Watch fireworks, get kids ready for bed, drive home. Daughter (who is overtired) cries the whole way home (15 minute drive).

And that is the COMPLETE list of steps that I did to replace my starter.

Working on my car will be simplified a bit once a move from my condo to a house later this year.

Anyone want a semi-functional Nippon-Denso starter?

Peter

[crxls]

sounds like you turned a 20 minute job into an all day event. at least you learned something.

[DarkHand]

Rubber gloves are your friend. Just the cheap $3/box kind is all you need... I'm hooked on them now and will never go back. No more scrubbing filthy hands for me!

[Mavrick]

why are these two starters listed if they both work? is there any difference

[1stGenRex]

Rubber gloves are your friend. Just the cheap $3/box kind is all you need... I'm hooked on them now and will never go back. No more scrubbing filthy hands for me!

but then you take off the golve and you DONT have a darkhand...you have a light one!

[rollz87civic]

I was at a gas station filling up (at $1.08... ouch

shit i wish it was the low here it $3.00 bucks

[Greg Gauper]

I was at a gas station filling up (at $1.08... ouch

shit i wish it was the low here it $3.00 bucks

Dude.....check his location. He's from Canada. That's $1.08 CDN per Liter. Works out to around $3.27 per gallon in US dollars.