94 sl1 starter???

Randomidiot · 05-06-2004, 03:06 AM

What is the best way to get to the starter on a 94 sl1 ? sohc, looks like the starter is about halfway up the motor, any hidden bolts, secret tricks, etc that I should know about? Thanks for all the help guys!

ausgeflippt13 · 05-06-2004, 03:48 AM

I think that you can unbolt the sucker and pull it out (when you disconnect anything that may be attached to it...it's dark and I can't look at my 2nd gen for you (they're about the same layout)...just remember to disconnect he neg batt terminal!

Randomidiot · 05-06-2004, 12:21 PM

There aren't any hidden bolts or anything?

ausgeflippt13 · 05-06-2004, 06:59 PM

I shouldn't think so, but then again, ya never know...I'd get a Haynes guide and that should have everything you ever want to know

Randomidiot · 05-06-2004, 09:12 PM

I don't trust haynes anymore... on my truck, they said there were 3 bolts for my heater core, ended up I had to take out more than 3, and remove other things as well

ausgeflippt13 · 05-07-2004, 12:47 AM

hmmm; well, I do know that there is another manual out there (can't remember its name...something like Clayton's) and I've definitely heard nothing bad about it...second time's the charm

...or you could always just call your saturn shop/dude

kaylexty · 05-08-2004, 04:44 PM

get a chiltons ive never had a prob with them ive had one for everyone of my 11 cars

ausgeflippt13 · 05-08-2004, 06:07 PM

That's the name...Chilton's...I wasn't too far off

Randomidiot · 05-09-2004, 01:52 AM

Ugh, I wish I didn't like this car. The starter was a pain in the- well, yeah, it sucked. The one bolt you had to get from up top, and it was right UNDER the intake manifold. Oh, and it was also pinned between the EGR and the head. Barely enough room to get my hand in there to turn the bolt, and half the time I couldn't get it to turn, so I had to use the ratchet, which I also had to hold onto the socket, since it WAS loose enough to turn with the ratchet, just not by hand..... Anyways, got the new one in after like... 3 hours (which to be fair, an hour of that was the trip to the parts store and back) and I think I learned a few interesting tips along the way:

1

Don't do this on an 80 degree day in a garage with no ventilation.
2

On the jumper from the solenoid to the starter motor, remove the jumper piece before trying to get the other wire on. This makes things a lot easier.
3

Make sure you have a good ratchet set with metric AND regular sockets.
4

Bring someone along. Even if it's just to set there and talk with you, it'll make the job that much less tedious since your battery is disconnected.

Now comes the fun part..... waiting for the title.

Randomidiot · 05-30-2004, 05:15 PM

Dammit, I had to replace this f'n thing again!!!!! It's my fault, (hooked it up wrong) but still.....

Finally got the title to the car, got it home, and it died. Battery was found to have 13 CCA out of the 520 something it should have had. Replaced.

Drove around for awhile, everything ran fine, went to my buddies house, car died AGAIN! Pulled the alternator, had it tested, was fine. Turns out I had the wires hooked up wrong, so the battery was only being charged when I started the car... whoops!

So then the car ran fine once it was hooked up. for a day! Then it didn't start again, hammered on the starter, it started. Ran fine again for like 3 days, then hit the dead spot again. Finally had to replace it in my work parking lot after work. Gotta love lying on your back in gravel, working on a car.

First time took me like 7 hours, second took... 3. Both times are with 2 hours of travel time to get the starter, since nobody around here seems to stock them. Now, I've been driving the car for a week with the new starter, and it works just fine.

And, I must say, I'm rather proud of what my car did leaving the parking lot.....

In the gravel, I turned a little to hit the pavement, nailed the gas, and pulled the e-brake. Car spun a good 180, WHILE toasting the hell out of the front tires... I even left rubber marks!!! I was so proud...