Just wanted to say thank you! This video saved me over $200.00... very well put together and straight to the point; I only had to watch it once. I took my burned starter off went down to my local Autozone and purchased a Valuecraft starter and 20 mins and $96.87 later I was cranking my Taurus once again.!!! Much Thanks again.... Billy Ray McClelland
FYI, for those just doing this job. I did my 2002 today, and the top mounting bolt could be accessed from under the hood much more easily. Thanks for the video.
Thanks a lot bud! My car was broke down at the parts store thinking it was my battery, but it was the starter, so I pulled up your video and showed me right where it was and what size tools. Again thanks!
Awreet! As promised, I want to report on the success of my Starter motor replacement therapy and, thanks to this video, everything went well. I did have a rude awakening in finding a new starter ( I went to O'Reilly's and found all kinds of confusion re: the correct part and the proper way to install - it seems the re-man starters from Mexico have a new fusible link attached to the solenoid and must be spliced into the ignition wire, a BIG pain).
Just finished the job and it cranked right away. Thanks for posting this. I'm guessing I saved $100-200 doing it myself. Only wished the 16 year old son could have been here to "assist" since it was his car. (He was at the beach.) Just one of the many things a Dad has to do I suppose......
@24scrapman On the 2001 Taurus the starter solenoid is built onto the starter, so the easiest way to replace the solenoid is to just replace the starter and knock out two birds with one stone.
Video is very informative. MY car is a SES Taurus 2003. When engaging the starter - Key Switch - the system acts like the battery is dead. With a digital volt meter the battery reads 12 volts. It appears the solenoid is engaging because the voltage drops but the starter doesn't move. The voltage dips, but returns to 12 volts. When the starter goes bad, it is always the same reaction symptom. This is the 4 time this has happened Battery is new. I see an entry by lajamoto is very similar.
There are a few causes of repeated starter failure. One of the most common is fluid or oil leaks dripping down onto the starter, a little water occasionally won't hurt the starter, but being constantly soaked will quickly shorten the lifespan of it.
You've probably already replaced it but I had the same thing. Since it's a '98 Taurus with little money invested, I didn't swap the wire and stuck with what I had (that's what I'm guessing my mechanic would have done). It's for the terminal. Supposedly the new wire is more resistant to corrosion. It cranked right up with the old one. Probably negates the warranty but that's what I did.
Great, thanks - I'm about to jack up a 2005 Taurus SE to do the same procedure. I understand that the 2005 has a plastic/heavy vinyl wind deflector which I have to remove, but I think the whole procedure will be almost identical to this one. I'll let you know.
Headed out to changet the starter on the wife's car. I was dreading this job. On some cars the starter ends up crammed up in some nearly impossible to reach place. Thankfully, on this model, it looks easy to get to and a pretty straight forward replacement. Thanks for the video.
My 02 Taurus experienced the exact same symptoms as you described... starting was hit or miss. A new starter was the solution to my problem as well. Thanks very much for the detailed video. It was helpful to be able to crawl under the car with the right tools, as you mention the bolt sizes in your video. Again, many thanks for helping!
@Xianman06 I am confused by your question, I do not know exactly what you mean by "Pinions on that starter" ? and Yes it is a 3.0 6 Cylinder (OHV) Taurus
Thank you for this video. A friend of mine has called me for help. Now I know how to treat this model. Your presentation is well-ordered, clear, and a pleasure to watch.
Thanks for the video so far--seems easy, except I can't get the upper bolt out of the old starter to remove it. Tried tapping it with a hammer and soaking it in PB Blaster overnight, and it still won't budge. I only have sockets and wrenches and there's not much room in there for anything else. I may have to take it in to an actual shop just because I can't get one stinkin' bolt out.
Thanks for this video. Checking out your store now for the part. I am curious though because this would be the 3rd starter I replace in this car in a 2.5 year time frame. Of course each time I go to claim the warranty it is just past the 1 year. I have also replaced the battery (for good measure). I just can't imagine why I am going through starts every year.
Thanks for the video. My 2001 Taurus started dragging yesterday and I knew it couldn't be the battery. I just had that replaced a month ago. I'll get this done tomorrow. Thanks again.
I just finished replacing the starter in my fiancé's 2003 Taurus. Thanks to your video, the whole procedure went smoothly and safely! Many thanks for a great video!
@ericarobertson85 It could still be the starter,, the starter might have trouble engaging, but the additional voltage added when jump starting the car may be just enough of a kick to force the starter to run. I would have the battery tested first though, if it comes up as OK then go ahead with the starter.
The pin is used to help align the starter. Alignment is very important between the starter gear and the flywheel ring-gear, so the pin ensures it's all lined up properly.
Worth mentioning: Be sure to cover the starter with rags at all oil changes. The oil filter is DIRECTLY ABOVE the starter. When swapping out the old filter for new, the old oil will drip on the starter and coat the motor and brushes with, you guessed it, old dirty oil. You can see oil dripping from the starter being replaced. Brilliant engineering Ford!
So if my battery is fine (showing 12.6vDC on a VOM), and I turn the key and hear click click with no turning over, probably the starter? Would a bad starter solenoid click audibly enough to hear it?
Well a few more tests are really needed. First you will want to retest the battery and apply what is called a load test. You will want to leave the volt meter attached to the battery and turn on the headlights or better yet the wipers for about 10 seconds (10 seconds only), shoot some water on the windshield first if you run the wipers as to not overload the wiper motor on dry glass. If the battery voltage drops below 9.6 volts when you turn the wiper on, well then the battery is actually the failure. If the battery voltage drops near 10 volts, the battery is probably weak and should be replaced soon. The battery is the single most important piece in the electrical system and a weak or failing battery can cause that starter solenoid clicking sound.
Im replacing the starter on my 2002 ford taurus 3.0 v6 right now. On my new starter there is a 6" wire with a tag on it which says "do not remove this lead! Crimp and heat shrink to existing lead." My old starter didn't have this and so I'm not sure what to do.
I am replacing the starter on my 2004 ford taurus and I notice there are no threads on the mounting holes on the starter. How is the starter held in place if the bolts come in through the bell housing or passenger side?
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I have changed many starters over the years but nothing surprises me how modern engineering can make a simple job a nightmare. This one was a piece of cake. Very good comment about tucking away the negitive cable as they do find a way of creeping back to the terminal post.
Hi we have the same year Taurus and we changed the started but, after running well for a couple of days it won't start light radio fans everything electrical works the car just won't start up. After a couple of hours go by then the car starts. Do you have any suggestions on what it may be?
Thanks for the video! I noticed there are two holes for bolts, and then there is a third hole for a pin. I am just wondering what this pin is actually for. Anyone know?
Thank you so much for posting this video! It's a great help for those of us who want to save money by doing what we can on our own. You are a great blessing! Thanks again!
ok i changed mine on a 06 taurus and when i went to crank it up nothing happend well i can hear the gears turning inside the starter but thats it please help....almost sounds like the gears are not meeting to turn ?
Thanks, the same pretty much applied for my 1992 Taurus wagon. It was 15 degrees outside and 30 miles from home. I wanted to have it towed to the Ford dealer to let them do it. This video gave me the confidence to attack it at a store parking lot where it died. Very frozen, locktite bolts. It took about an hour and a half to 2 hours including going to NAPA auto parts. Job accomplished and hundreds of dollars saved!!!
Read your comment to "lajamoto" Apparently the starter is bad according to your reply. Thanks for the reply to lajomoto ! This helps me alot. Thanks for sharing. Frank Foster
I have a 2001 Ford Taurus and when I went to start it thismorning it did nothing but just one click every time, battery is fine, wires seem fine. Is this my starter or something else?
having interment starting problems 1-15 times. sounds like a starter but I replaced it 4yrs ago. battery good alternator still good original. load test on battery ok alternator at 14...Starter AGAin? 2003 sable
I have put the new starter in my 03 Taurus but when I put the negative battery cable back on it creates a spark & the car does not turn on is it possible with the way I did it ? When I put the new starter in I first attached the power wires then the bolts could it have been that ? #Help
you can attach the wires before bolting it in, that isn't an issue. make sure you have your power wires attached to the correct terminals, and that no part of the wires going to the starter is touching any bare metal other than the terminal that it is supposed to be connected to.
Thanks so much for all your time and efforts in making this great video!!! I will have to do this in the next few days and now I feel more confident in tackling it myself. You are a godsent my good sir!!!!
I have 04 ford Taurus. I turned the car on and it wouldn't start. I had to use something metal to reach the starter to tap on it and it worked for couple days. And now today it stop working. Is it impossible the starter stop working or is it the starter solenoid? Help me!
It has been my experience that the main cause of intermittent starting with this starter is due to engine oil that has been drained over the starter (from the filter), causing the brushes to gum up. Many times, cleaning the brushes will cure the problem for years. Even if the brushes are worn or cracked, they can be replaced for about $10. I've had 2 Taurus and 1 Sable with the 3.0 engine, with a combined 500,000 miles and have never replaced a starter, only the brushes when needed.
Found your video very helpful with my 2004 Taurus when I needed to change the starter. I did not have a jack or ramps to change the starter from under the vehicle, but did find that if you remove the battery and the battery box you can gain some extra room to change the starter from the top. Thanks!
Thanks for posting this video. I'm getting ready to replace the starter on my 04 Ford Taurus. I'm afraid this might be a dumb question, but how come you don't also disconnect the positive battery cable (in addition to the negative)? Thanks again.
Removing the negative cable breaks the circuit. With the negative cable removed at the battery there is no chance of shorting out any "hot" terminal with a misguided wrench or other tool. No further disconnection is needed.
what starter motor did you get? Did you the the one from TYC, USA industries or motorcraft? Please let me know--attempting to fix my 2001 taurus Thanks
Good video, helpful. Notes: You can indeed do this from the top by just removing the battery, the battery tray (4 bolts), and the battery ground wire connection to the engine block (one bolt). I just did it this way in about an hour. You do have to slither under the car to unbolt the bottom starter bolt, but I could do that without raising the car or removing the front shield under the bumper. But getting the top bolt was easier from the top. Also: easier to just pull the whole thing up, wires and all, unbolt the two wires, reconnect the new starter, then lower it down and bolt it back on. Thanks for a very helpful video
To Robert Ailman (it won't let me reply, don't know why): That wire on the replacement starter is not a fusible link. There was a service bulletin on Taurus starters wherein the signal wire would corrode away in the last few inches where it connects to the starter. They want you to cut about 5-6 inches off that signal wire, and splice the new one on your starter to that wire for this reason. You have to cut off the signal wire end, strip about 1/2 inch, shove it into the connector on the wire pigtail provided on the replacement starter, and then crimp the connector. Then slide the provided piece of heat shrink tubing over the joint and heat it with a hair dryer to shrink it down so it keeps moisture out of the joint. ALSO: my replacement came with a rubber cap over the brush end of the starter to protect it from the common, dreaded problem of oil dripping onto the starter from the filter and ruining the starter brushes.
Thanks so much for the video. I have a 05 Taurus and the instructions where almost the same. I am not a mechanic so I need this video and I changed it with no problem thanks to this vid.
The only way you would want to do that, would be if you also use jackstands to support the car after it's up in the air, do not trust your life to a flimsy scissor jack.
Never worked on a car and by following your instructions i managed to change my starter. Thank you!
Just wanted to say thank you! This video saved me over $200.00... very well put together and straight to the point; I only had to watch it once. I took my burned starter off went down to my local Autozone and purchased a Valuecraft starter and 20 mins and $96.87 later I was cranking my Taurus once again.!!! Much Thanks again....
Billy Ray McClelland
easy to fix
FYI, for those just doing this job. I did my 2002 today, and the top mounting bolt could be accessed from under the hood much more easily. Thanks for the video.
Thanks a lot bud! My car was broke down at the parts store thinking it was my battery, but it was the starter, so I pulled up your video and showed me right where it was and what size tools. Again thanks!
@ovrebo1 Because they are very affordable, and parts are aplenty, and they are actually quite reliable.
Awreet! As promised, I want to report on the success of my Starter motor replacement therapy and, thanks to this video, everything went well. I did have a rude awakening in finding a new starter ( I went to O'Reilly's and found all kinds of confusion re: the correct part and the proper way to install - it seems the re-man starters from Mexico have a new fusible link attached to the solenoid and must be spliced into the ignition wire, a BIG pain).
Just finished the job and it cranked right away. Thanks for posting this. I'm guessing I saved $100-200 doing it myself. Only wished the 16 year old son could have been here to "assist" since it was his car. (He was at the beach.) Just one of the many things a Dad has to do I suppose......
Thank you so much for this video. You saved me $130 by doing it myself!
@24scrapman On the 2001 Taurus the starter solenoid is built onto the starter, so the easiest way to replace the solenoid is to just replace the starter and knock out two birds with one stone.
Video is very informative. MY car is a SES Taurus 2003. When engaging the starter - Key Switch - the system acts like the battery is dead. With a digital volt meter the battery reads 12 volts. It appears the solenoid is engaging because the voltage drops but the starter doesn't move. The voltage dips, but returns to 12 volts. When the starter goes bad, it is always the same reaction symptom. This is the 4 time this has happened Battery is new. I see an entry by lajamoto is very similar.
There are a few causes of repeated starter failure. One of the most common is fluid or oil leaks dripping down onto the starter, a little water occasionally won't hurt the starter, but being constantly soaked will quickly shorten the lifespan of it.
You've probably already replaced it but I had the same thing. Since it's a '98 Taurus with little money invested, I didn't swap the wire and stuck with what I had (that's what I'm guessing my mechanic would have done). It's for the terminal. Supposedly the new wire is more resistant to corrosion. It cranked right up with the old one. Probably negates the warranty but that's what I did.
Great, thanks - I'm about to jack up a 2005 Taurus SE to do the same procedure. I understand that the 2005 has a plastic/heavy vinyl wind deflector which I have to remove, but I think the whole procedure will be almost identical to this one. I'll let you know.
Thank you very much. I am a single mom and I did this with no problems thanks to your video.
Headed out to changet the starter on the wife's car. I was dreading this job. On some cars the starter ends up crammed up in some nearly impossible to reach place. Thankfully, on this model, it looks easy to get to and a pretty straight forward replacement. Thanks for the video.
this really help saved a friend of mine some money
thanks
Videos like this make DIY stuff seem more possible. thanks for the vid XD
Much needed. thanks. i get to tackle it this week.
My 02 Taurus experienced the exact same symptoms as you described... starting was hit or miss. A new starter was the solution to my problem as well. Thanks very much for the detailed video. It was helpful to be able to crawl under the car with the right tools, as you mention the bolt sizes in your video. Again, many thanks for helping!
@Xianman06 I am confused by your question, I do not know exactly what you mean by "Pinions on that starter" ? and Yes it is a 3.0 6 Cylinder (OHV) Taurus
Thank you for this video. A friend of mine has called me for help. Now I know how to treat this model. Your presentation is well-ordered, clear, and a pleasure to watch.
Great video thank you!
Thank you so much for watching a commenting, we appreciate the feedback.
Saved me a pretty penny! God Bless!
2004 Ford Taurus SEL DOHC
Thanks for the video so far--seems easy, except I can't get the upper bolt out of the old starter to remove it. Tried tapping it with a hammer and soaking it in PB Blaster overnight, and it still won't budge. I only have sockets and wrenches and there's not much room in there for anything else. I may have to take it in to an actual shop just because I can't get one stinkin' bolt out.
Thanks for this video. Checking out your store now for the part. I am curious though because this would be the 3rd starter I replace in this car in a 2.5 year time frame. Of course each time I go to claim the warranty it is just past the 1 year. I have also replaced the battery (for good measure). I just can't imagine why I am going through starts every year.
Thanks for the video. My 2001 Taurus started dragging yesterday and I knew it couldn't be the battery. I just had that replaced a month ago. I'll get this done tomorrow. Thanks again.
I just finished replacing the starter in my fiancé's 2003 Taurus. Thanks to your video, the whole procedure went smoothly and safely! Many thanks for a great video!
thanks, this helped immensely!
@ericarobertson85 It could still be the starter,, the starter might have trouble engaging, but the additional voltage added when jump starting the car may be just enough of a kick to force the starter to run. I would have the battery tested first though, if it comes up as OK then go ahead with the starter.
Thank you! Very helpful.
Wow! Looks pretty simple. Great video, easy to follow.
Thanks for posting. real helpful.
Thank you sooooooo much for this video
Would a jack the comes with the car be ok to jack it up where you can change the starter?
The pin is used to help align the starter. Alignment is very important between the starter gear and the flywheel ring-gear, so the pin ensures it's all lined up properly.
Yep getting it
Awesome video, thank you!!!
I have a 06 Taurus, is the starter changing procedure the same on my year as well?
thanks man:) great tutorial
Worth mentioning: Be sure to cover the starter with rags at all oil changes. The oil filter is DIRECTLY ABOVE the starter. When swapping out the old filter for new, the old oil will drip on the starter and coat the motor and brushes with, you guessed it, old dirty oil. You can see oil dripping from the starter being replaced. Brilliant engineering Ford!
Thanks so much
Great! Perfect instruction!
Thanks! For the help.
So if my battery is fine (showing 12.6vDC on a VOM), and I turn the key and hear click click with no turning over, probably the starter? Would a bad starter solenoid click audibly enough to hear it?
Well a few more tests are really needed. First you will want to retest the battery and apply what is called a load test. You will want to leave the volt meter attached to the battery and turn on the headlights or better yet the wipers for about 10 seconds (10 seconds only), shoot some water on the windshield first if you run the wipers as to not overload the wiper motor on dry glass. If the battery voltage drops below 9.6 volts when you turn the wiper on, well then the battery is actually the failure. If the battery voltage drops near 10 volts, the battery is probably weak and should be replaced soon. The battery is the single most important piece in the electrical system and a weak or failing battery can cause that starter solenoid clicking sound.
Im replacing the starter on my 2002 ford taurus 3.0 v6 right now. On my new starter there is a 6" wire with a tag on it which says "do not remove this lead! Crimp and heat shrink to existing lead." My old starter didn't have this and so I'm not sure what to do.
I am replacing the starter on my 2004 ford taurus and I notice there are no threads on the mounting holes on the starter. How is the starter held in place if the bolts come in through the bell housing or passenger side?
nice one thanks
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I have changed many starters over the years but nothing surprises me how modern engineering can make a simple job a nightmare. This one was a piece of cake. Very good comment about tucking away the negitive cable as they do find a way of creeping back to the terminal post.
Hi we have the same year Taurus and we changed the started but, after running well for a couple of days it won't start light radio fans everything electrical works the car just won't start up. After a couple of hours go by then the car starts. Do you have any suggestions on what it may be?
Well I could only like it once, but I am giving you a double like!
@Xianman06 Thanks! Give us a call anytime and we will be happy to help you find the parts you need.
Thanks for the video! I noticed there are two holes for bolts, and then there is a third hole for a pin. I am just wondering what this pin is actually for. Anyone know?
It's just a guide pin to insure correct orientation when you install.
Thank you so much for posting this video! It's a great help for those of us who want to save money by doing what we can on our own. You are a great blessing! Thanks again!
good video
Hi, I'm changing the starter on my '06 taurus. Took both bolts off, and all the wires, but the starter won't come out. Any ideas?
How do i know which starter to buy?
Thank you so much....easiest repair I've done so far. Glad to have my Taurus running again!!
Excellent video! Thank you. I'm off to replace my starter now!
This video helped me out a lot. Thank you!
ok i changed mine on a 06 taurus and when i went to crank it up nothing happend well i can hear the gears turning inside the starter but thats it please help....almost sounds like the gears are not meeting to turn ?
Thanks, the same pretty much applied for my 1992 Taurus wagon. It was 15 degrees outside and 30 miles from home. I wanted to have it towed to the Ford dealer to let them do it. This video gave me the confidence to attack it at a store parking lot where it died. Very frozen, locktite bolts. It took about an hour and a half to 2 hours including going to NAPA auto parts. Job accomplished and hundreds of dollars saved!!!
Aweomse!! we love to here the do it yourself stories, That is who we are and why we started this business.
is it the same for a 01 tauras.?
+tazeem bradford as long as it's a 3.0L OHV engine this would be the same, if not very similar
the video was helpful
tazeem bradford yess same car
Read your comment to "lajamoto" Apparently the starter is bad according to your reply. Thanks for the reply to lajomoto ! This helps me alot. Thanks for sharing. Frank Foster
thanks for uploading this video!! you helped us out sooooooooooo much!
Can you show how to swap the engines.
i am doing this today thanks to you :)
thanks save time on looking for the right size wrench
I have a 2001 Ford Taurus and when I went to start it thismorning it did nothing but just one click every time, battery is fine, wires seem fine. Is this my starter or something else?
nbb8581 Did you figure it out, what was it ?
Great job on the video. It was easy to follow and I was able to replace my starter and save some money.
I have pins stuck in the engine how do i get them out
Well done! Thank you for the information and great presentation.
having interment starting problems 1-15 times. sounds like a starter but I replaced it 4yrs ago. battery good alternator still good original. load test on battery ok alternator at 14...Starter AGAin? 2003 sable
+Garrett Forester It could be another bad starter having a dead/burnt spot on the starter armature. Or if your lucky, it could be a loose connection?
@nbb8581 Unfortunately It sounds like the starter has gone bad.
I have put the new starter in my 03 Taurus but when I put the negative battery cable back on it creates a spark & the car does not turn on is it possible with the way I did it ? When I put the new starter in I first attached the power wires then the bolts could it have been that ? #Help
you can attach the wires before bolting it in, that isn't an issue. make sure you have your power wires attached to the correct terminals, and that no part of the wires going to the starter is touching any bare metal other than the terminal that it is supposed to be connected to.
Thanks so much for all your time and efforts in making this great video!!! I will have to do this in the next few days and now I feel more confident in tackling it myself. You are a godsent my good sir!!!!
The starter is connected to a metal plate that is connected to the clutch, what is that called?
I have 04 ford Taurus. I turned the car on and it wouldn't start. I had to use something metal to reach the starter to tap on it and it worked for couple days. And now today it stop working. Is it impossible the starter stop working or is it the starter solenoid? Help me!
Paige Gerlach
Great video!! Exactly how its done. Thanks!!!
I got a 03 Taurus SE. I got free engine sludge with my starter your Taurus is the one I wanted.
Thanks pale! You helped me figure out how to do it before I could fix any of my cars! Once again Thank you so much dude!
It has been my experience that the main cause of intermittent starting with this starter is due to engine oil that has been drained over the starter (from the filter), causing the brushes to gum up. Many times, cleaning the brushes will cure the problem for years. Even if the brushes are worn or cracked, they can be replaced for about $10. I've had 2 Taurus and 1 Sable with the 3.0 engine, with a combined 500,000 miles and have never replaced a starter, only the brushes when needed.
Thanks for a great video!
Thank you for doing this video.
Found your video very helpful with my 2004 Taurus when I needed to change the starter. I did not have a jack or ramps to change the starter from under the vehicle, but did find that if you remove the battery and the battery box you can gain some extra room to change the starter from the top. Thanks!
Great to here, yeah we get off pretty easy with having the luxury of a lift
I just did mine from the top of the vehicle. I only had to remove the battery and oil filter.
this is the best video on you tube thank you for saving me $200.00
Thank you for this video!! I'm going to replace my starter as soon as the sun comes out.
Great video! Thank you for posting this! We are getting ready to replace our starter and this is VERY helpful!
Just did this on the exact same car but it will not start. All I get is a single click when I turn the key. How do I figure out what's wrong?
Thanks for posting this video. I'm getting ready to replace the starter on my 04 Ford Taurus. I'm afraid this might be a dumb question, but how come you don't also disconnect the positive battery cable (in addition to the negative)? Thanks again.
Removing the negative cable breaks the circuit. With the negative cable removed at the battery there is no chance of shorting out any "hot" terminal with a misguided wrench or other tool. No further disconnection is needed.
what starter motor did you get? Did you the the one from TYC, USA industries or motorcraft? Please let me know--attempting to fix my 2001 taurus
Thanks
the one we used in this video is a USA Industries starter.
Good but, should've shown removal of splashguard.
Good video, helpful. Notes: You can indeed do this from the top by just removing the battery, the battery tray (4 bolts), and the battery ground wire connection to the engine block (one bolt). I just did it this way in about an hour. You do have to slither under the car to unbolt the bottom starter bolt, but I could do that without raising the car or removing the front shield under the bumper. But getting the top bolt was easier from the top. Also: easier to just pull the whole thing up, wires and all, unbolt the two wires, reconnect the new starter, then lower it down and bolt it back on. Thanks for a very helpful video
Yes from up top this can work also, especially for most people watching this video as it is pretty rare to have a lift.
...with a 3.? engine?
To Robert Ailman (it won't let me reply, don't know why): That wire on the replacement starter is not a fusible link. There was a service bulletin on Taurus starters wherein the signal wire would corrode away in the last few inches where it connects to the starter. They want you to cut about 5-6 inches off that signal wire, and splice the new one on your starter to that wire for this reason. You have to cut off the signal wire end, strip about 1/2 inch, shove it into the connector on the wire pigtail provided on the replacement starter, and then crimp the connector. Then slide the provided piece of heat shrink tubing over the joint and heat it with a hair dryer to shrink it down so it keeps moisture out of the joint. ALSO: my replacement came with a rubber cap over the brush end of the starter to protect it from the common, dreaded problem of oil dripping onto the starter from the filter and ruining the starter brushes.
I only got to watch 2 minutes of this video due to buffering problem but that's all I needed...thanks for the info
Thanks so much for the video. I have a 05 Taurus and the instructions where almost the same. I am not a mechanic so I need this video and I changed it with no problem thanks to this vid.
I would have the battery checked first, then that only other possible thing I can think of is the alternator is faulty, have it checked as well.
The only way you would want to do that, would be if you also use jackstands to support the car after it's up in the air, do not trust your life to a flimsy scissor jack.
Great video. Totally worked for me. Thanks a lot for your help. :)