I am changing the starter in my 2005 mazda rx8 GT

I have followed a DIY and have removed 4 things.

#1: Small wire clip that was a squeeze type

#2: larger white clip which housed the top nut. (I took off the nut too)


#3: right side smaller bolt

#4: Top left huge bolt/nut


Even though I have removed all of these, the starter will not come off.... I heard people say it falls right off so watch your head. Well, it wont budge at all. I was pulling on it with a lot of my strength and it would not come off.

I noted in another thread that my car is in first gear with ebrake on. Would that matter at all?

What should I do?

 

Have you tried to put the car in neutral and re-trying?

Maybe try tapping it with a mallet/hammer. Remember that it's under the car and exposed to a lot of dirt/salt/etc

 

What is the reason behind the starter removal?

I'm asking because to my knowledge, I am the only other one to report a starter getting stuck on the transmission, and mine was due to damage after a clutch disc shattering. https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/shattered-clutch-repair-starter-removal-224849/

Mine was just a freak chance, but it's possible there is some damage in there. I ended up not being able to get the starter out of the transmission until I had the transmission dropped and could cut off the metal wedged into the starter housing with a dremel.

E-brake will not matter. Literally the only things holding the starter on there is the 2 bolts. The wires won't even prevent it from coming off. It's a pretty short nose inside the transmission.

Is it pivoting on anything? wiggling at all? Or just like the metal has 'frozen' to the transmission, not budging at all.

 

^I was just trying to remember who recently had issues with this! Thanks RIWWP

 

The reason behind the starter removal is to replace it. I have an upgraded one to replace it with. The car DOES start with the old starter, but man its embarassing.... Ill be at the gas station cranking it for 6-7 seconds. I purchased the new one because I heard it cranks a lot faster and is easy to replace. And if I force it enough, it does wiggle a tiny bit. I have not however tried tapping it with a mallet/hammer.

Ill try switch it into neutral, and tapping it with a mallet and see if that works. But I'm not gonna lie, it seems pretty solid in there... Off of google I saw some people say over time the starter can seize into the rest of the car, but I hope not. I wanna get some good starting action! I just replaced the plugs, coils, and wires and wanna get this done so I dont have to jack it up again.

 

So i guess the answer to your question: Frozen

 

The good news is that since you have the new starter, and the old one is basically worthless, grab a hammer or mallet and just give it a really good wack.

If it doesn't come free on the first, hit it from a few other angles.

There is nothing but those bolts to get in the way, regardless of what gear you are in. Gear has nothing to do with it, since it goes to the flywheel, which is on the engine side. And unless the key is in the "start" position, the gears aren't even engaged. (The power to the starter for starting pushes the gear down the shaft to engage the flywheel.

 

If you have a wire brush on a dremel or electric drill, use it to polish off any rust from the transmission side of the flange before you install the new one. A light coat of regular grease on the surface where the flange meets will prevent rust in the future.

Good tip for quite a few places on the car actually. Like the wheel hub face where it meets the rotor hat.

 

alright thanks riwwp.

When i read the thread you started I got a bit worried because I started thinking about my transmission issue.

When the car is either in neutral, 4th, or 6th gear, it makes a really loud airy sound coming up from the bottom of the car (around the shifter). I wondered if maybe something that was possibly similar to your issue happened to me. But, that is for the dealer to take care of because I definitely cant do transmission work. Ill bang it up and see what happens.

I dont think my car is in the on position.... I dont think it would let me take the key out if it was lol.

 

No, my issue was completely from the clutch disc shattering. Anything internal to the transmission wouldn't affect the starter at all. The transmission bellhousing is literally just the mounting point for the starter. The starter entirely affects the flywheel (when you are trying to start) or nothing at all (with no power to it)

 

Alright, sounds good. I will go home and make sure that it no longer defies the laws of physics anymore. *mallet in hand*

 

Starter should fall off easily, give it a few good blow and it should pop right off unlessssss ---- its engaged for some reason and it does not go back to its original position

 

thanks ill give it a few wacks.

by the way, I dont wanna start another thread but I have a stupid question about spark plugs wires. I bought a set of 4 of them. They are NGK.

2 boots are black. 2 boots are blue. Does it matter which I put on where? I know trailing are the colored ones on what I have now, but does it matter if I put the blue on the trailing or leading?

Also, the 2 sides of the wires: one has a metal clip at the very opening of the boot, and 1 has a small metal flat piece at the very most inside part of the boot. Which side goes on coil/which side goes to plug?

(stupid i know)

 

what he said ^^^ ive not had a starter come out easily for ages over here ... trick is to clober it with a hammer so it twists and brakes the seal (obviously not a 10lb sledge and only on the edge of 1 of the flanges) once its moved it will come out

 

Color doesn't matter, length does. This pic should help:



There are a few larger versions of the pic that I can't seem to find on google images at the moment.


Edit:
Or this:

 

well here it is:

These are the new plugs (i wanted the blue wires on top to identify trailing like my old wires but they werent the right length and it was my first time oh well).




I also put in new coils, 3 intermotor coils, and 1 oem coil. (i broke an intermotor coil trying to get my new wire off, and then replaced it with a recent new 1 given to me by the dealer.)




Hopefully the 1 different coil wont affect it much.

As for the starter, I banged on it a bit with the mallet from the bottom but it didnt seem to move/wiggle/budge at all... My dad is gonna help me out a bit tomorrow, see if he can get it. Do you think that theres a chance that for some reason the flywheel is still engaged with the starter? I dont want to damage the flywheel.

And then tuesday the 2 clips I broke for the hose come in and hopefully... hopefully... this thing will start up and run better than ever!!

 

well everything is done and changed. I got the starter off after hitting it with a mallet many times. You know whats funny though, the starter was actually an updated 1. I couldnt see the part number from the ground. However it was very rusty, and the new one seems to have at least a little bit of improvement.

Heres 2 videos of the starts. 1 is a bit longer cause it was the first start with the starter and reconnect of battery.

You guys think that sounds pretty good? If it does to you, I might not go get compression checked for a bit...




But if you guys think "oh that doesnt sound right!", I might go get it checked because I dont know what else could cause a poor sounding start.


Thanks for all the help by the way guys. I would have never been able to do all the work with the plugs, wires, and coils without your advice.

 

Yeah, that is quick enough. I have 110 miles on my reman engine and it only starts faintly faster than that.

Good work!

 

Thanks RIWWP. I appreciate it and feel much more confident with the new starter.

Did you hear at the beginning when I first turn the key though? It kinda sounds like it turns slow until the starter gets power. Im wondering if thats because of the type of battery im using. I dont think the ford dealer put a very strong one in.

I am willing to get a new one if it will help. What type of battery do you recommend to get that starter juiced up? (That isnt like over $200)

 

Well, I bought an optima yellowtop (35). I wanted a redtop but unfortunately autozone and advanced autoparts were out of them. I ordered a redtop from advanced auto but it turns out they didnt have it when i went to get my order so they gave me a yellowtop for the same price (that was nice of them). I prolly dont need such a powerful battery but hey it works. This is the final start that I recorded. Sounds MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better. I love it!



One last question before I go drive all over. The shifter boot... I just installed an illuminated shifter. I installed a new shifter boot, but the top of the boot I'm not sure how it goes. It appears there are two ways that it can be buttoned/attached. Which 1 is correct? Folded down/over, or unfolded?

Option 1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...5/IMG_5895.jpg


Option 2

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...5/IMG_5896.jpg


I know its prolly a stupid question to you guys but I wanna know