cant remove starter

[CREWZIN]

Removing the battery, I don't think it will help gain access because it's too far to the side.

I agree with your mechanic and my thinking that the best access to the solenoid and the starter is from the top.

[Kochtaters]

I've just started having the same problem on my 2001 PT Cruiser. I just had a battery replaced and an oil change with a new air filter. All of a sudden yesterday (Sunday), it didn't start. I had someone give my battery a jump and it started. Thought it was a bad battery. Got it home, turned it off and it wouldn't start again until this morning (Monday). Brought it to my mechanic and he can't find anything wrong. He tested the altanator and that is not the problem. Now I'm thinking it's the starter. I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS!!! Do you believe it would be the starter? Any suggestions if not?

[makku]

bad grounds maybe?

When you can't start it, do you have full battery power? No dim lights? Check all your grounding points and that everything is connected right.

(Ever tried to jump a dead battery with one of those portable batteries? If you don't choose the right grounding point, the engine will crank but not enough to turn it over and start it. Is that what yours is like?)

[Arne]

In these issues where she starts then doesn't then does,
you may want to pay attention to that notorious positive battery cable.
For me, a simple replacement red cable from the battery to the solenoid has cured my starter problem on both my PT's.

[Carl48]

Took a look at this today while under the PT doing an oil change. The structural collar is located directly under the starter motor. It appears to be held in place with 5 bolts. It looks like if you remove these bolts, the collar will be free to drop away thus exposing the starter motor for removal. Two bolts attach the starter motor to the engine...remove the wires and the 2 bolts and it looks like the starter will have enough room to drop out from below. This may be easier said than done, but getting at it from below appears to be the way to go. Don't have any torque specs for reassembly of the collar but it would be best to get everything finger tight first before tightening down. Also, before doing any work on the starter removal, disconnect the negative lead from the battery.

[Carl48]

Originally Posted by Arne

In these issues where she starts then doesn't then does,
you may want to pay attention to that notorious positive battery cable.
For me, a simple replacement red cable from the battery to the solenoid has cured my starter problem on both my PT's.

Wow, that positive cable to the starter sure looks wimpy.

[cdynaco]

Originally Posted by garciaag

also i noticed my starter is loose on the bottom. i can get under the car and jiggle it. there is no bolt nut on the top side just behind the cylonoid and no bolt attached on the bottom side. i really have no idea what is keeping my starter in place.

Maybe the starter & solenoid is fine. But if the starter isn't mounted tight its not grounded well. Hence the sporadic problem.

[Kochtaters]

MAKKU - to answer your questions I should have full battery power as it is a brand new battery, but since I'm not mechanic, I wanted to give my mechanic some ideas to look at. Now I'm running hot again and I just had an oil change on Wednesday. I keep loosing oil and my mechanic can't find any trace of it. I'm going crazy!!!

[Ghost]

remove the battery and the air box (not essential but makes accessing the top mounting bolt and ground a lot easier)

look down between the fan shroud and the intake manifold the starter should be on the center right, to get to it you have to take off a mounting plate.
On the 2001 there are three bolts on the face of the plate and two on the side, you have to take the three on the face off first.

after that you have a strait shot up to the starter if your flexible enough

[MigJam]

thank you for getting me started on removing my starter..i had the same headaches and used the infamous hanes repair...but seriously bit more pictures would have been nice. starting: 12:45pm Sunday....wish me luck!