How to Replace the Starter on a Ford Car

Replace the bad starter motor on your Ford vehicle.

The starter or electrical motor on your Ford vehicle turns the engine crankshaft to get the engine running. Problems with the starter armature, pinion gear, bushings, field coil and related hardware could cause the motor to slow crank, overheat or stop operating. If you need to replace it, this guide will help you remove the damaged starter and install the new unit in your Ford vehicle.

Things You'll Need

• Wrench
• Shop rag
• Floor jack
• 2 jack stands
• 2 chocks
• Ratchet, ratchet extension and socket set
• Swivel joint, if necessary

Instructions

Removing the Starter

1. Park your Ford car on a level surface.

2. Disconnect the black, negative battery cable using a wrench. Then isolate the terminal of the disconnected cable to keep it from accidentally touching the battery post. If necessary, wrap a shop rag around it.

3. Raise the front of the car using a floor jack and support it on two jack stands.

4. Chock the rear wheels and apply the parking brake.

5. Remove the splash shield from the underside of the radiator using a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket, if your vehicle is equipped with one.

6. Disconnect the wire and battery cable from the starter motor using a wrench or ratchet and socket.

7. Remove any braces attached to the starter or that might interfere with the starter removal. Use a wrench or ratchet and socket.

8. Loosen the starter motor mounting bolts using a wrench or ratchet, ratchet extension and socket. On some Ford models, you might need to use a backup wrench to hold one or more of the mounting bolts as you loosen them. Also, consider using a swivel joint between the socket and ratchet extension if you are working in a confined space. This will let you move the ratchet in different angles as you unbolt the starter motor.

9. 

   Hold the starter motor with one hand and finish removing the starter motor mounting bolts. Then remove the motor from the vehicle. Keep any starter shims located between the starter and engine for adjustment.

Installing the Starter

1. Set the new starter motor in place along with the starter shims, if equipped, and start the mounting bolts by hand to avoid thread damage.

2. Tighten the starter motor mounting bolts using the backup wrench, ratchet, ratchet extension, swivel joint and socket.

3. Install any brackets to the starter motor, if necessary, using the wrench or ratchet and socket.

4. Connect the wire and battery cable to the starter motor using the wrench or ratchet and socket.

5. Install the splash shield to the underside of the radiator using the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket, if your car is equipped with it.

6. Lower the car.

7. Remove the chocks from the rear wheels.

8. Connect the black, negative battery cable using the wrench.

References

• Ford Escort and Mercury Lynx Automotive Repair Manual; Alan Ahlstrand and John H. Haynes; 1991
• Modern Automotive Technology; James E. Duffy; 2003