Starter replacement and location?

Tiny
ANONYMOUS
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 KIA OPTIMA
  • 55,000 MILES
What has to be removed to get a starter out on a 2009 optima?
Friday, January 18th, 2013 AT 8:38 PM

23 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Hello,

Here is a guide to help walk you through the repairs with instructions in the diagrams below to show you how on your car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-starter-motor

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Friday, January 18th, 2013 AT 11:30 PM
Tiny
TAMIA09
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  • 2006 KIA OPTIMA
2006 Kia Optima 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

Where is the starter located?
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
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If you follow the battery positive cable back to the engine it wiil take you straight to it
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
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Just follow positive battery cable down through engine compartment, it leads straight to starter motor.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STACY GOSA
  • MEMBER
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  • 2006 KIA OPTIMA
  • 2.7L
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 122,000 MILES
I am trying to replace my starter but I have no idea where it is located and how to start.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Hello,

Yes the starter is under the car near the front. You will need to start by lifting the car and disconnecting the battery. Here some diagrams and guides to help you get the job done.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/jack-up-and-lift-your-car-safely

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-starter-motor

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
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  • 2006 KIA OPTIMA
Where is the starter at
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Which engine do you have?
If you follow the positive cable from the battery, you should reach the starter at the end of the cable.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BATAFONANA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 KIA OPTIMA
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 118,000 MILES
My car would not start yesterday morning after sitting for twelve hours while I was working. There was not even a click when I turned the ignition key. I checked the battery terminals and it was tight and perfect. The starter wouldn't make any noise even when I try to jump start it. Eventually I was given a push and started with the clutch.
I suspected it might be the starter which I have called AutoZone and was arranging with a mechanic to come and get it replaced.
I just went to the car this morning and turned the key and lo and behold the car started like nothing has happened. I turned it off and started it again and it started right off the bat. What might have been the cause?
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Hi,

This certainly sounds like the starter or the circuity. Reason is, when you pop the clutch and it starts, all you are doing is using the weight of the car to do the job of the starter to turn the engine over. All else needs to be functioning (ignition, spark, fuel) in order for this to work.

I thought maybe the crank sensor was the issue but again, this doesn't make sense because the crank sensor tells the PCM when to fire the plugs and injectors. If it didn't have that then it won't have started when you popped the clutch.

Unfortunately, now that it is functioning it will pass all the tests. However, I included the test for the starter solenoid if it does act up again. You need to get power to the solenoid in order for it to click. If you have a connection issue, you may not get it to click and this would cause intermittent operation. It won't hurt anything if you want to unhook the battery (both terminals) and then clean the battery terminals and then unhook the starter connections and clean them as well. Then reconnect the battery.

Just take notice if any of the starter connections are loose or do not look like clean metal. If they are not, that could be your issue.

Let me know what you find and I will be happy to assist further.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RICKIMONGOLD
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  • 2005 KIA OPTIMA
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
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  • 150,000 MILES
Where is the starter located and also is there a way to do the screwdriver trick where are you what's the solenoid in the ground?
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Good afternoon,

It is under the car on the left side of the engine.

Does the starter not work in park or neutral?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-starter-motor

I attached the procedure and the location for you.

Roy
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JUSTIN BOLDON
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  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
Can you tell me where the start is on my car?
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Hey Justin,

Starter motor is located on the lower left or right side of engine. Here is a guide that will walk you through the steps.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-starter-motor

You will need to raise the car up to do the job.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/jack-up-and-lift-your-car-safely

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MELANIE MOUSER
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  • 1 POST
We're is the starter in a 2005 Kia lx
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Good afternoon my name is Roy and I will assist

What model is your Kia? Sedona or Optima?

I need this to get your location.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DATNIGG
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 KIA OPTIMA
Engine Mechanical problem
2003 Kia Optima 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

I have a 2003 Kia Optima with a bad starter. I see the location but dont know which bolts to remove to release it. Can you pleasehelp me out.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Use the new starter to compare with the old starter

STARTER
Removal & Installation
Disconnect the battery ground cable.
Remove the speedometer cable and the shift cable.
Disconnect the starter motor connector and terminal.
Remove the starter motor assembly.
To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CJ552
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 KIA OPTIMA
  • 2.3L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
Replaced starter and battery. When I turn the key it says nothing. It was doing the same before I replaced starter and battery. It is as if the starter is not getting voltage.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,554 POSTS
Hello,

Here is a guide that will help us do some testing and wiring diagram (below). There is a starter relay that sounds like it is bad.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 4:15 PM (Merged)

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