How to Replace the Starter in a Ford Taurus

Imagine running late to get out the door for work, sitting in your 2000 to 2007 Ford Taurus and turning the ignition. Nothing happens. You try the ignition again. Still, nothing happens. Your Ford Taurus won't start. While any number of things can be wrong, such as a dead battery or bad alternator, there is a possibility that you need to replace the starter in your 3.0L engine.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Torque wrench

Remove the Malfunctioning Starter

1. Park your Ford Taurus on a level surface, activate the emergency brake and place blocks behind the back tires for safety. Raise the front end of the car with a jack for easier access to the starter.

2. Disconnect the negative battery cable with a terminal puller. Remove the engine's front splash shield to gain access to the starter. There should be approximately ten bolts to unscrew in order to remove the splash shield. Place all bolts in the baby food jar to prevent loss.

3. Detach starter electrical connectors, such as the battery cable nut and solenoid. Remove the starter mounting bolts and the malfunctioning starter should slide out easily. The starter motor in a VIN S engine is larger than the starter motor in a VIN U engine, so prepare yourself for the weight.

4. Take your malfunctioning starter to the parts store with you. Aftermarket distributors remanufacture most of the starters they sell, so you can likely obtain a partial credit toward your new starter by exchanging your old one. Be sure that you take care not to damage the starter in transit, because the better condition it is in, the more you can get for it.

5. Purchase a replacement starter that has the same or higher cranking capacity (power rating) as the original starter in your Taurus. Also, match the bolt patterns, drive gears and electrical connections. Your owner's manual may list specifications or the auto parts technician will help you determine them. Download a free owner's manual from Ford Fleet.

Install the New Starter

6. Place the new starter motor in the appropriate position and install the mounting bolts. Torque the bolts to 18 foot pounds (23 Nm).

7. Reattach the starter electrical connections. Tighten the battery cable nut between 80 to 123 inch pounds (9 to 14 Nm).

8. Replace the front splash shield, making sure to attach all of the bolts you removed earlier so that the shield is completely secure. Then, reconnect the negative battery cable to the terminal.

9. Lower the vehicle back to the ground. Turn the key in the ignition and check to see if your new starter works.

Tips & Warnings

• If your Ford Taurus is older and/or has high mileage, you should also replace the solenoid.
• Never operate the starter for more than 30 seconds at a time. Allow the starter motor to cool for at least two minutes in between starting attempts to prevent permanent damage.
• The starter replacement process is different for Ford Taurus models older than a 2000. Consult your owner's manual or a mechanic for details.

Resources

• Download the owner's manual for your Ford Taurus.