Starter replacement?

Tiny
CHRIS74
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
I have a 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. In December of 2007 I had a remanufactured transmission put in. About 2 weeks later, the car began having trouble starting. The battery seemed to be working fine, so I assumed it was the starter. I took it into a mechanic who said it wasn't the battery or the starter, it was the ignition cylinder and he replaced it for 340.0. Less than 20 minutes later the car did it again, I took it back and this time he said that he thought it was the anti-theft device causing the trouble and asked me to bring it back the next day so he could install a bypass switch. The next day, he wasn't there but another mechanic said it was a faulty relay-switch so installed a new one. Then he came out and told me the car wouldnt start AT ALL. I left it there over the weekend, and now he says when he came in this morning the battery was completely dead. How can that be when he said it was fine 3 days ago? Now he says he's charging the battery but he STILL doesn't know what's wrong. He says its not the starter or the fuel pump or the anti theft device. What else could it be? Please give me some advice, I'm so frustrated. Should I have it towed to another shop? Is there anything you can suggest that he check? Thank you. Sorry this was so long.
Monday, February 18th, 2008 AT 4:24 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,750 POSTS
This vehicle should be fairly easy to diagnose and fix. This guide will let you know if the starter is bad with a guide to help walk you through the steps of replacing it.

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

and

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

Please run down these guides and report back.

Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, February 18th, 2008 AT 4:27 PM
Tiny
GARRYGO2SUN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
  • 3.4L
  • V6
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
How do I remove the starter from a 3.4 liter? Do I have to go from underneath? How many hoses and wires need to be re-routed? Do you have any helpful images? Do you have an image of the flywheel cover? The 3.4 is a beastly engine to work on and I need any help you can offer.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, October 25th, 2020 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support vehicle. As required, remove nuts from A/C compressor, exhaust system and/or engine braces, adjacent to starter. On M/T models, remove bending brace from around starter (if equipped). On all models, remove other items that may interfere with removal of starter.
If necessary, remove nut from engine cross brace. Using pry bar between upper engine mount and engine, pry rearward and support engine.
If necessary, remove oil filter, air induction tube and cooling fan. Remove flywheel inspection cover (if equipped). Remove starter solenoid terminal "S" nut and battery cable nut. Separate wiring from starter. Remove starter mounting bolts and any shims. Remove starter
installation
Before installing starter onto engine, tighten inner solenoid terminal nuts to ensure they are secure in cap. Starter failure may occur due to terminal or cap damage. Ensure pinion-to-flywheel clearance is.020" (0.5 mm). See Fig. 7. Add or subtract shims as necessary. To complete installation, reverse removal procedures. Tighten starter mounting bolts to specification. Refer to the TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table
note: exhaust bolts or pipe may or may not have to be removed.
Vehicles are designed for starter mounting without shims. A single shim or double shims may have been added to correct a noise or engagement condition. When installing starter any previously installed shims should be replaced in original location to ensure proper pinion to flywheel clearance.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Sunday, October 25th, 2020 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
THOMASDAVIS86
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1993 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 87,000 MILES
I need to replace the starter on my 1993 cutlass ciera s. It's the 3300 V6 model, and apparently it's difficult to replace the starter. I was wondering if anyone had any experience replacing the starter on these cars and if they have a good way of fixing the problem.

Thanks,

Thomas
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, October 25th, 2020 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IMPALASS
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,112 POSTS
Hello - Thomas

If you do need to get back with us please let me know if the 8th digit of your VIN is N as this is what I used and matched what you provided.

It really doesn't look that bad....... Not sure where you got the info on that. I have attached the directions.

Service and Repair
Notes

Upon removal of starter, note if any shims are used. If shims are used, they should be reinstalled in their original location during installation.
If starter is noisy during cranking, remove one.015 inch double shim or add one.015 inch single shim to the outer bolt. If starter makes a high pitched whine after firing, add.015 inch double shims until noise ceases.
1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Raise and support vehicle.
3. Remove flywheel cover attaching bolts, then the cover.
4. Disconnect all electrical wires from starter.
5. Remove starter motor attaching bolts, then the motor by rotating the solenoid side toward the vehicle.
6. Reverse procedure to install. Torque starter attaching bolts to 32 ft. Lbs. And inspection cover bolts to 89 inch lbs.

Hope this helps.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Sunday, October 25th, 2020 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
THOMASDAVIS86
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The problem isn't so much the installation of the starter. It's the fact that the starter is really hard to get to and I was wondering if anyone had way experience dealing with this issue.

VIN #:

1G3AG55N5P6328961
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Sunday, October 25th, 2020 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IMPALASS
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,112 POSTS
Hello -

I myself have changed numerous starters.......I even owned a Cutlass Ciera myself. I have found that unless it is a truck most of the items like this are hard to get to. Especially with the way the engines sit sideways now.

The big thing is allow yourself plenty of time and be safe. Of course you already know to disconnect the battery. I have had some that you can not really reach the cable connections until the starter is unbolted and rotated before dropping out.

The directions seem pretty straight forward......... Some vehicles are not that way.

I am not sure if I have answered your question. But again, allow yourself plenty of time, get the vehicle a good ways off the ground so you can move around. Make sure it is braced of course.

I hope this helps.........

Looks like you may have some recalls on your vehicle. The dealer may fix these for free. Please contact the dealer service department, give them the VIN number of your car and have them check on these to see if they apply to you.

93C05
08/01/1993
Campaign - Undercured Right Front Brake Hose

96C01
10/01/1995
Recall - Rear Seat Belt Assembly Anchorage Failure

NHTSA95V173000
09/11/1995
Recall 95V173000: Seat Belt Anchor Defect

NHTSA94V211000
10/19/1994
Recall 94V211000: Brake Line Leakage Potential

NHTSA93V121000
07/09/1993
Recall 93V121000: Brake Hoses Defect
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, October 25th, 2020 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Starter Replace/Remove Content

Starter Replacement
VIDEO
Starter Replacement
Instructional repair video
Starter Motor Replacement
GUIDE
Starter Motor Replacement
A starter motor is a high torque motor that utilizes a small pinion gear to contact the flywheel and a starter solenoid to initiate the electrical connection when the...
VIEW MORE