I'm trying to change my starter for my accord. I looked online for tutorials and everything I found says its supposed to be relatively easy. I opened my hood to discover my starter is completely unreachable due to a gigantic hose from the radiator that I cant unhook because the clamp is out of reach, as well as a slew of rubber and metal wires all over the place. can anyone help??




here's a picture of what im dealing with.

 

I managed to get to two wires off of the old starter, but I still have no idea how I'm supposed to be able to get the two bolts attaching the starter to the motor. I dont even see how the starter will be able to be removed seeing how small the space is.

 

take intake tube off , 12 mm socket or 14 i think with about 3/4 foot extension take the lower one first and the upper last will make your life easier if u go in that way bc if u take the upper one first ( easier ) the lower one will lock with the weight of the stater

 

it turns out all the tutorials on how to change the starter for this car somehow exclude the part where you dismantle half the f*cking engine just to be able to reach the bolts.

 

You gotta drain the coolant and take the hose off from the back of the engine and just carefully pull it back until you can get to the starter.

And why are you using pliers to remove anything there ? Buy a set of real tools from Walmart for like 30 bucks.

 

+1. Taking off part of the lower radiator hose (either from the front or back) on the 5th gen Accords gives you the room to work more easily.

Ratchet, socket (should be 14mm), and extension are your friend.

 

Disconnect and remove battery.
Disconnect and remove air filter housing to TB tubing.
Everything that is bulky and in the way needs to get punted. IIRC you don't have to remove the upper radiator hose, but you will need to remove the metal C clamp that holds the hose in position to allow enough movement to get the starter out. Use an extension to get the two starter bolts out. And slide the starter back and out. For some reason I recall an issue with some bracket attached to the transmission mount.

Don't force anything and don't bend any of those AC lines.

Of all the starters I've had to replace, the Honda starter is one of the easier ones. It's not like you have to hold up a 30lb piece of copper and steel as you blindly install bolts and a wire harness, all the while hoping you don't self inflict some serious pain by crushing ones own skull with a starter.

I find Hondas are one of the more mechanically maintenance friendly cars built, well at least the 90-97 Accords.