khemfusion

The only thing stopping me from driving my car around RIGHT NOW, besides the fact that it's not insured, is my damned starter connection.

It was working fine before I had my clutch replaced at Mazda, then the mechanic told me when he looked at it that the: "Power Lead to starter is loose and nut is stripped, cannot be tightened or removed". So I think they probably stripped it themselves, and I was too dumb to tell them to fix it right there since it was probably their fault.

Now the problem with that, is that I get under the car and take a look at the starter, and I can't tell which nut he's talking about, I've been looking in the FSM under Engine Electrical system, 5-20, but it's not much of a help for me.

Anyone?

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

There are two nuts at the back of the starter solenoid. One leads to a thick power lead that goes to the battery (should measure 12V with the ignition off). Another leads from the solenoid to the starter motor. It will be one of those thick leads.

The bolts are VERY hard to strip, and I can't imagine someone doing so without putting in alot of effort. Might want to verify this for yourself. Should it be stripped, you can replace the solenoid or the whole starter (they are cheap).

khemfusion

Thanks man, I'll probably see about replacing the solenoid first (PS, your website is awesome )

khemfusion

Damn, the top bolt "A" is being a major pain in the *** to get off, I swear I've been turning it forever

Kenteth

"keep turning, it has to come off sooner or later"

khemfusion

I've turned it for over an hour at least! Each turn of my wrench goes 45* of a full rotation

It also seems to get loose, looser, and then all of a sudden it feels tight again, it feels like it's stripped!

WHAT THE HECK? Any ideas on how to get it off?

khemfusion

never mind, I'm just retarded
thanks everyone

Davidov

iTrader: (2)

Did you get it off?
If not stick a flathead screwdriver under it, and put force upwards on the nut as you wrench on it.

If it's stripped you are most likely not getting a good connection on that terminal.
A new solenoid is like $24. If it works fine, don't worry about it.

Be sure to memorize or LABEL which wires go to which terminal! Before you get f-ed for 2 days with no car trying to remember which way it was!
(cough cough me)

khemfusion

I've had the car since march, and only driven it on the road for about seven days, I'm not exactly worried about it being off the road for two more days