how do i remove and install a starter on a 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham?

Question

ive never seen a starter like this and am a little confused. my car has plenty of power "battery" and the starter wont kick on. so i went and bought a new one hoping to get the car running. so how do i do this. I know the caddy starters are kind of different from others

Answer 1

Assuming this is a rear wheel drive Caddy and the starter is in the right rear position (passenger side, rear of engine) then you need to chock the wheels, disconnect the battery and then lift the front or passenger side of the car and then remove the wires connected to the starter/solenoid and then remove one bolt at a time and remove the starter. Install the new one in the reverse and make sure you have the wires exactly where they were when you removed the old one.

You may need to shim the new starter since there is a "lash" or space adjustment so that the starter gear disengages or lets go of the flexplate gear teeth when the engine starts or you release the key when cranking it. If you torque the bolts to spec's (something like 40-65 foot pounds) the starter gear may bind and not release the flexplate when you crank it. This is why you shim the starter and even then you may need to loosen the bolts to less than spec's to prevent this from happening.

If the engine fires while cranking and the starter does not disengage you will likely tear some teeth off of the flexplate and then you'd have to remove the transmission to replace the flexplate.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

There should be about 3 to 4 bolts holding the starter.
1. A put on safety glasses 1.Dis-connect battery cables.
2. Locate bolts securing starter.
3.Vehicle may have to be elevated to get to starter assembly.
4.Remove starter and take defective starter to get proper replacement.
5. To re-install do steps in reverse.
Be aware that electrical parts are sometimes un-tested and possibly may not work.

Answer 3

Disconnect battery. Jack up car and remove bolts drop starter then remove electrical. Just take note as where the connectors go. Are you sure it is not the starter relay?