[stone4779]

OK so I have been under this car all afternoon, I finally gave up on getting it off of there. It is really, really tight in there.

Anyone have any tips for getting the starter off? Car wont crank/start. New battery so it is not that.

I figured I would pull the starter and see if it is good so that I can eliminate that possibility.

When you hit the start button to crank it over, the lights just dim a bit and nothing happens.

I bought this car at an auction Thursday... so that is all the information I can really provide(at least that I think matters)


My bright idea was to remove the catalytic converters, it seems to me that is the only way to get the starter out of there once the starter bolts are off..but after getting both the driver's and passenger's side catalytic converters unbolted from the cylinder heads/exhaust manifolds...the two clamps holding the mid pipe are apparently NOT coming off. Maybe they are rusted together? I dont know. I sprayed them with PB Blaster, letting it sit overnight.

I have banged, pried, cursed, rested, banged, pried, cursed some more...It doesnt look like I have made even 1% progress on getting those clamps off.

I am pretty sure there is no way to get the starter off an AWD V6 without getting those cats dropped..so I guess the obstacle at this point is how the HECK am I going to get those off. IDK I might have to sawzall the mid pip where it connects to the muffler..

even then, with the cats/mid pipe dropped completely, I am expecting it to be a real pain to get up in the to get the starter off.

Anyone have experience replacing a starter on a 2011+ AWD V6?

I will worship the great one who provides the answers!

Thanks guys. Glad to have somewhere to go when I get stumped. Forums save my life sometimes! lol

I was hoping this would be a simple 1 hour job tops...guess not! They are making the most simple of procedures a major headache these days...

 

[stone4779]

GO TO THIS ADDRESS: i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu217/stone4779/Untitled-2.jpg


Figure 1 I did remove both of the bars to allow the cats and mid pipe etc to drop.

Figure 2 shows the two pain-in-the-arse clamps that refuse to let go.

(I tried posting the URL but I guess I dont have enough posts to post a URL yet...Ill fix it later when it will let me)

 

[Theone300]

Copied from the LXforums.com It's was for a magnum but I think they are pretty close the same as the 300.


ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)
1. Disconnect and isolate negative battery cable.
2. Raise and support vehicle.
The steering gear assembly must be partially lowered to gain access to starter. Do not disconnect any hydraulic
hoses or remove any steering linkage. Proceed.
3. Remove coupling bolt (pinch bolt) securing steering gear to steering column.
4. Remove three steering gear mounting bolts and slightly lower gear. Temporarily support the steering gear.
5. Remove steering gear heat-shield.
6. Remove two starter mounting bolts (2).
7. Move starter motor (1) towards front of vehicle far
enough for nose of starter to clear. Always support
starter motor (1) during this process. Do not let
starter motor hang from wire harness.
8. Remove battery cable-to-solenoid nut.
9. Remove solenoid wire from solenoid stud.
10. Remove starter motor.

 

[stone4779]

Thanks 'o great one xD

I was afraid i was gonna have to lower the steering. Im going to go outside and give it round 2!

Im so ready to move on to the next diagnosis procedure after the starter lol

 

[stone4779]

OK, so I FINALLY got the starter off.

I spent about an hour just trying to get the top pinch bolt off the steering shaft...ended up putting PB Blaster on the BOTTOM pinch bolt, and using a socket as a chisel, I hammered the steering rack off the steering shaft.

Then you lower the whole steering rack down and out of the way completely.

Honestly, a jack isnt necessary to hold it, as it pretty much holds itself, since it it still connected elsewhere.

So now, I am off to test the starter. Im fully expecting all of this effort to be in vain, as the starter might be perfectly fine...but I have to check before moving on to other things.

I was never able to get the clamps off the mid pipe...it was all in my way but I did manage to get the starter out anyways by moving the catalytic converter out of the way as much as I could, and supported it with a jack to keep it from trying to land on my face lol.

In the future, if someone asked me to do a starter on an AWD V6 300...Im going to need at least $100 man. Such a pain! If stuff wasnt rusty, it be a lot easier though. That exhaust not coming of really makes it annoying to get up in there at the starter.

Anyways..Im off to Oreillys Auto Parts to test this bad boy and see if I am going to move in to checking the PCM, fuses, relays, etc again.

 

[stone4779]

BTW, you do not have to remove the steering gear heat shields...at least I didnt since I unhooked the catalytic converter to make more room. It did kinda get in the way.... Might be easier that way though..

 

[stone4779]

Just an update...the starter was in fact no good. Ordered a new one w/ lifetime warranty from Oreillys. It should be here in the morning. Hopefully that does it! Thanks again great one! XD

Funny, I had searched the charger forums, all the 300 forums, and found zip-zero-zilch on AWD V6's. I forgot about the magnum forums.

 

[Theone300]

That was the first link that popped up when I did a search for it.