93lx

1992 Honda Accord, LX, 2.2L ,Manual Trans

I am trying to figure out the best/easiest way to remove the starter.

I have read in some places to jack the car up to get to the bottom bolt on the starter.

I have read some places that say you should remove the battery tray and possibly the air intake.

Also; Is it possible, without damaging the Bendix/Flywheel, to push start the car? I am afraid to try it because I am worried the bendix will still be engaged and I might fry the starter (if it isn't already) or damage the flywheel.

Right now, if you try putting the battery cable on it will spark immediately.

The previous owner said he cranked it a lot when it was out of gas, then when he put gas in it, the car started, but the starter would not disengage and he had to pull the battery cable to get it to stop.

Thanks

MAD_MIKE

Push starting the car is no problem, just place the ket into the ON position, push the car and pop the clutch to start the engine.
There are several loads that will draw power, radio, clock, ecm. If the starter was still engaged or pulling a load there would be a larger arc and the starter cable would become warm>hot pretty quickly if it was stuck.
He probably did stress the starter, possibly did damage the Bendix drive.
If the Bendix is still engaged, you can try to tapping the drive with with a hammer and a piece of wood to see if you can shock it free.

djkurious

There is a DIY on CB7Tuner with pics.

93lx

Djkurious I am going to look that up right now. (after just a few minutes of looking I haven't found it, but I will keep looking. I spent around 4 hours searching every thread titled "starter" on here last night and never found anyone saying how to get it out)

Mad mike: My dad already tried tapping on the starter and when we tried to put the battery cable on it immediately sparked. He acted like it was basically a lost cause, so I kind of assumed I needed to remove it.

Since we are thinking the bendix is staying engaged, wouldn't push starting possibly leave it engaged and cause a horrible racket/possibly damage the flywheel?

93lx

I have 3 questions now

#1 Since the bendix was stuck engaged to the flywheel, can I just unplug the starter and try to push start the car? Or will I risk damaging parts farther because it will still be engaged?

#2 Can I run (push start) the car with the starter removed?

#3 Does anyone have any tips for getting the 17mm bolt out? Should I just give up and tow the car somewhere with an air wrench?

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For people who are searching for how to remove the starter like I was


Here is the link to CB7 tech

I found removing the battery tray was very easy (just unbolt it, nothing else has to be moved) and made access a lot easier.

The bottom 17mm is still being a BEOTCH. We have a 24" breaker bar on loan from Auto Zone and I bought some PB blaster to try and help it break free. So I caution you, removing the bottom bolt might require an impact wrench.

93lx

Thanks to PB blaster we got the starter off.

Now, does anyone know if I can just tape the hot wire up with electrical tape and try to push start the car to verify the motor is a working motor?

holmesnmanny

Yeah, you can do that, just make sure that thing does NOT touch ground. That other bolt helps to hold the tranny to the engine, that's why it's so tight.

MAD_MIKE

Was the bendix stuck? You should be able to tap it back, then you can reinstall the starter to fill the hole in the bellhousing and reattach the cables so they are not dangling around.

93lx

The bendix was/is stuck out. I want to open the solenoid up but the solenoid has no screws like all the examples I am finding on the internet. Does anyone know how to get it apart?

I push started the car with the hole open (stupid me). Luckily I only drove it a few hundred feet. I am going to cover the hole with a piece of cardboard (The starter is kind of a pain to maneuver in and out ) and put the bolts back in or just get a new starter as soon as I figure out where to get it from.

I see you said that other bolt helps hold the transmission in place, so I better have those bolts in there if I am going to run the car eh? STUPID STUPID ME! Glad I didn't try to drive it anywhere.

93lx

I got the bendix to pop back in finally.

If I took it to somewhere and got it tested and it worked now, would it be wise to put it back in the car? Or is it basically guaranteed it will mess up again?

Would rebuilding the solenoid be possible, and if so, how do I get it apart. All other solenoids I have found examples of have screws to take off the end cap.

holmesnmanny

I'd just pull one from pick-n-pull.

MAD_MIKE

Any of the local chain stores should have a test bench on it to verify if the starter is pulling the correct voltage/amperage for its designed load.
If it works the first time, ask them to do a few consecutive tests to see if it sticks again.
FWIW I had a starter on a Chevy stick once, smacked it around, it released and never did it again. *shrug*
Well, you would replace it not rebuild.
After looking up RockAuto, the solenoid(~$130) costs nearly more than the starter assembly(~$120), same for the bendix(~$200).
Cheaper to just purchase a new starter outright.
Could always disassemble the mechanical bits for inspection and cleanup.
This should help a bit...


If you are feeling like a mad scientist...
You could ghetto rig the starter for a test. Only do this on the ground.
Jumper a wire from the smaller connector to the main positive lug on the back of the solenoid. Using a jumper cable connect that to the (+) positive cable. Connect the other end of the positive cable to a good battery.

Attach the negative (-) battery terminal to the other jumper cable.
And just touch the outer casing of #3. Do not clamp it, you will be observing if the starter reacts.

Be warned the starter will torque over, DO NOT TRY TO HOLD IT. Unless you want to break your wrist. And don't wear loose clothing, ties, etc that can catch on the spinning Bendix drive.
If it doesn't do anything it is probably cooked/damaged from the PO cranking the engine too much.

93lx

Pre-warn; sorry if I repeat myself I have a few threads and have been talking to many people about this

I have had the starter tested at Autozone and Advanced. All was fine with it, the computer said the starter was good because it couldn't tell the bendix was stuck in the outwards position ( this was before I popped it back in)

I found a solenoid for $20 here :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190641445287...#ht_500wt_1158

I thought I could rebuild it before I learned it is a Mitsuba starter not a denso. Literally every hour is a learning experience for me at this stage.

The starter originally got stuck because the previous owner cranked on it for too long when the car was out of gas.

If I get the new solenoid, and lube the shaft that the bendix is on, do you think the starter would give me service for a long time to come, or is it a ticking time bomb?

Or, after I take it to advance and they test it a few times and it works, and I spray some lithium on the bendix, would it be a decent bet to put it back in and try it out?

My dad (who says he only knows a little about starters) said if I put a new solenoid on it, and the brushes and bearings are okay, that I should be okay to go for a little while at least, considering what I have told him. He is kind of leary about me just sticking it back in there without a new solenoid though.

I thought the consensus was that reman starters are a crapshoot and thats why I was strongly considering the rebuild, but I am getting mixed opinions on that subject.

Mad Mike: Thanks TON for the diagram, its too bad it isn't labeled though. Being half mentally retarded and completely inexperienced at working on cars I will have to get someone to explain most of those parts to me haha.
The advance is literally 1 minute from my house, so way easier to let them test it than ghetto test it myself. I must say, once the bendix snapped in place, I felt just like Burns.

*edit* for anyone looking at this in the future the following link has the corresponding numbers to that picture
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...+%28MITSUBA%29

Hidenplanvew

You can get a remote start, connect one side to the positive cable on the starter and the other to the little wire going from the solenoid to the starter it's self. Just tap the button on the remote start and look in the inspection hole to see if it's retracting or getting stuck out. Just make sure to put the trans into neutral.

93lx

I took it apart and cleaned the bendix assembly. Lubed it back up. Took to autozone, 3 tests and it worked perfectly each time.

Guy there said it happens all the times with honda's because of the location of the starter, dunno about that but the distributor was leaking on it and it was VERY dirty in there.

Going to mount it on the car and crank her up when it gets daylight.

Thanks for the help!