I tried replacing my starter today, while it was raining. I know that there should be two bolts that attach the starter, and I was able to get one loose with a socket and ratchet. However, the second bolt (in the red circle in the attached picture) is stuck and I can't remove it. There isn't enough space because of the transmission to use a ratchet and socket to remove the bolt. I am able to fit the socket on the bolt (size is 9/16, I tried 14mm but it seems to be a tad too small) but I am unable to fit the ratchet into the socket and put it on the bolt. I have tried using a wrench, but two corners of the bolt have been almost rounded off so the wrench is just slipping.

The only way I can see to remove this bolt is to somehow get a way to use the socket, or to weld a piece of metal to this bolt and just twist it off. I am thinking of getting the socket, putting it in the mouth of the wrench, and supergluing the socket to the wrench. Or is there such a tool that I can buy? Any other ideas?

 

That's why you use an extension on the ratchet. Easy.

Every nut and bolt on the car is metric. It is 14mm. 9/16" is slightly bigger and will only making rounding off the head more likely.

 

superglue isn't going to work. that is a 14mm bolt man, just get the closed end of a 14mm wrench, and pull!

 

The problem is, my ratchet is similar to this one (http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/grc7077/$FILE/wrench%20-%20ratchet%20w%20socket.jpg).

There isn't enough space because of the transmission, I only have enough space to get the socket onto the bolt. When I attach the ratchet to the socket and try to put it on the bolt, I can't even get the socket onto the bolt. I need to use a socket extension that swivels, and even using that I can only get about half the socket on the bolt.

 

trust me man, even then it's not going to fit.... i thought the same thing and bought one.... waste of money. just get your 14mm wrench and crank it off!

 

My car's up on stands so I just went and looked for you to see what I used when I did a starter swap recently. I used a swivel joint and and extension, and it worked fine. I can't use a ring spanner because of the 'vert cross member, but there's no reason why you can't.

So like the man said, get a 14mm spanner and go for it.

BTW, have you figured out the top bolt has a nut on the end of it yet?

 

You need to get some extenions and universal and get creative. When your working on cars works smarter not harder.

 

Thanks for taking a look at your car for me. I'm having someone buy me a box end wrench right now (14mm), I was just stupid and forgot such a tool existed.

I did figure out that the top bolt goes all the way through and has a nut at the other end. I'll figure some way to get that off, but I did already loosen it. Hopefully it won't be too much trouble.

 

woudn't a braker bar fit in there, and if you need the force you can put the box end on the bolt and then take another box wrench and jam it on the open end to create a long wrench for braker purposes

 

Ya, thats a 14mm bolt. Use the other end of a wrench and pull like hell. or you could use a 14mm short socket attached to a wobble and medium extension with a 9-12in ratchet. simple really.

 

dude, just let the wrench hang off of it, and then just kick it in the direction you want it to turn. thats how i roll.

 

Liquid wrench and/or WD-40 should help.

If you already chewed up the corners and can't get a nice long 14mm wrench to work, you can try a pair of vise grips instead. Put them on as tight as you can get them. If they slowly slip off you'll just cause more damage. If they suddenly snap off after being super tight, it won't chew up anything. And it's less likely to come off if it's tight, of course. Other nice thing about vise grips is that you don't have to hold it while you kick it.

And do replace that bolt with a new one.

 

i always have these in my tool box

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...d=damaged+bolt

 

Save your self some time. Take it to a shop that has some descent mechanics. They should be able to get it done in less then an hour.

 

I second this! Worked for me!!!

 

Actually I was able to get the bolt off with a 14mm ratchet and an extension (albeit, it was still at a slight angle and had to tape a file to the ratchet to make it longer). The open box end 14mm wrench I got didn't work since a few corners were already rounded on the bolt.

I was so happy... until I tried putting in the new starter and found out that Kragen gave me one that doesn't fit (even though in their database it says it should all FCs).