GMC Jimmy 4x4 Starter Removal & Installation
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Bi-weekly "How to" #39.
1998 Jimmy used in this video.
Disclaimer:
To the best of my knowledge this video is accurate. I am in no way responsible for any occurance resulting from following the instructions in this video.
Awesome video, went to work on my girlfriends 96 jimmy and she's running once again!
Thank you thank you!!! All the videos and repair manuals did not show the problem i was having getting to starter fir removak n replace. I dont feel so lame now. Honesty is major thing when doung repairs. Thank you
Glad I could help. Thanks for your comment, much appreciated!
Thanks for the video. I would have been really frustrated if I did not see it was possible and saw how you did this. The tool that saved me was my flexible shaft driver. I was able to use this to get the nuts off and 90% back on. I was able to do the final tightening by twisting the starter with the ratchet on the nuts since there was no room for turning the handle. Took me about 90 minutes including pulling the right front tire and holding the mud flap out of the way with a clamp.
You saved my bacon. I could not remove the starter as well. I did try to raise the engine/bell housing slightly to gain some opening space but the full rotaion was the ultimate trick to removing the starter. Also, by removing the mounting bolts first and then lean the starter towards the removal opening first and then disconnect the wires from the soleniod is the way to go, as well as removing the passenger front tire.
Happy to hear that you this video useful!
next time follow the wires and you will find two anchors holding it to the frame. take the wires off the anchors and that will allow the starter to drop down below the frame level so you can get right to the wires on the back of the starter. it's a hell of a lot easier this way.
Thanks! Any tips that make things easier are always greatly appreciated!
MudRFunR I just replaced my starter on my 00s s10 for the 2nd and 3rd time and having the wires dropped already have a big difference. all I needed was a Walmart jack, 13mm, 8mm sockets and about 30min.
Trying to get mine loose. This will help ALOT. Thank you
Allen McKinneyi
Hope your right. Just picked up a 2000 s10 with the 4.3 v6 for free. Have to change the head gasket and now the starter. Went to go pull it out a few hours ago and gave up. I'll get back at it in the am
Glad to help, thanks for watching!
I have the exact same 98 Jimmy and I had a much easier replacement. I lifted the motor slightly with a floor jack. This created even more room and also allowed the electrical wires to remain attached to the starter till below the frame. I then removed the wires, attached them to to the new starter and pushed it all up into place with ease.
Thanks for your suggestion. Much appreciated!
@@MudRFunR Sorry, what I forgot to mention is how much help your video was. Hell, I didn't even know what side of the truck the starter was on...lol
How did you lift the engine or where ?
13mm & 5/16 that's what I needed??? 99 Chevy blazer. I like your ratchet!! And... what a pain in the buttkiss taking the wires off. I would have never tried cuz Daddy taught me differently, but it would still be on there if I didn't do what you said! Thank you. Yeah I'm a girl, with a 15 minute mastery skill level with my Dodge Dually - very much easier. The only thing I have to worry about is knocking my teeth out with the weight of the starter😁. Thanks a lot. Very helpful.
thanks for the help I just did a 2000 jimmy it was a pain to work it out and get the new one back in but some how it found its way your video helped me out alot
gary willavize Just glad to help. Your comment is much appreciated!
Thank you. Replaced starter on 2000 GMC Sonoma. It's very similar. I had to loosen the support between the engine and the transmission to get it out. The wrench with the swiveling head really helped with the small 8mm nut. I purchased it from a local auto parts store when I was working on it. It is an expensive tool from the store, so if you can plan ahead then purchase it somewhere reasonable. On my vehicle, accessing wires from the fender well is not practical, so that advice from repliers varies by vehicle
It seems there is a variation with each vehicle. This is what worked for me but others have commented that they found an easier way. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Enjoy!
Thanks for advice on releasing wires from anchors! Lot easier. Though getting it out was still a challenge, it took some time.
These starters are not the easiest thing to get at, eh?
tank you for your encorage it very easy to replace starter 30 minutes for special price of 80.00 dollars
To get to the wires remove the passenger side front tire. Then lift the rubber spray flap above the A arm and the wires are right there. These starters will go in and out without removing anything else but you do have to get them turned just right.
97 gmc sonoma 4.3.....starter wires you can get through pass side wheel well.....2 14mm starter bolt's hold it in....and slide's easy out the rear
Good to know it worked for you, thanks for watching!
Awesome...Thank you. This worked out perfectly. I did in in about 45 min to an hour. I was working on a 1996 Jimmy though.
Darrick Grimmett Good to know, thanks for your comment.
just did a starter on my 98 chevy s10 4wd. Thanks for the help, It took me about 35 minutes. I removed the two starter bolts first, turned the started down and removed wire connections. reversed the process install. Don't forgot to removed battery post connections. I almost forgot to. IT save 75.00 minimum garage fee.
Glad all went well! I had to watch again just to make sure that I mentioned removing the cable.
Good video. Gonna do the starter on my 92 Bravada when it arrives. Tho here's another tip that may or may not help depending on your situation: My truck has a 2 inch body lift and bigger tires so a lot of the fender well was cut out. And on the passenger side when it's cut out the wires are right there in front of your face. I don't even have to take the tire off, although that's because of the lift.
He said that the gas tank is laying in the ground and didn't have time to install the tank so he couldn't do a start up. But then he could have tested the new starter see if it cranks the engine.
I did this today myself.. I took the inspection plate off that is behind the starter, and was able to turn the starter 180* and was able to get a socket straight to the wire.. I didn't need the ratchet with the adjustable head...
Awesome, got a blazer, 98 4x4 to do today and that will help tremendously. Keep up the videos
I just changed my starter. It was quite difficult to take the wires loose. I had a friend tilt the starter upward, and then had easy access to the wires in the wheel well. The starter refused to come out, no matter what angle. I loosened the bolts on the transmission cross member mount. Raised the trans by jacking up on the bolts, (maybe 3/8 of an inch. Starter damn near fell out. This would have taken about 45 minutes most if I had realized this. The thing that was in the way before was on the exhaust pipe, which I did not see it in your video. I could not get past that without the extra distance. Putting the starter back in took about 10 minutes. Thanks for the help.
Your exhaust must be located different from the Jimmy in this video. It was not in my way on this one. Glad to help, enjoy!
Yup, these S10's, Jimmys and Blazers are a hard truck to work on. Everything is crammed in way too tight. But I do like your way of thinking!
LMAO... spot a mechanic in a crowd!
Thanks for the video. Got to do my girlfriend 98 Chevy blazer.
Hope all went well!
All went perfect! Thank you!
What a pain that was. Getting at those wires were such a pain.
I tried doing it the way the video shows and it was near impossible. I took the right tire off and just below the exhaust manifold I could reach the wires just fine. It was a tight fit but it was doable. Also if you take out one bolt from the bottom and loosen the other it makes it easy. The bolt holds the starter in place but it being loose allows you to wiggle it to get to the wires easier.
Yes, it was very difficult. Sorry it didn't work for you and thanks for the info, enjoy!
If you take the strap off the wire and disconnect the crankshaft sensor wire you can bring the wires down almost to the ground, eazy peezy.
Yes, you are right. I realized after the fact that this would have been easier. Thanks for you comment, much appreciated!
Is there a volume control ?
I just did my 97 blazer and you can cut the zip tie started wires from above and you'll get just enough to pull out the starter WITHOUT unbolting them, BE SURE to pull one side of the connection off the battery BEFORE doing this unless you like seeing sparks......
That sounds possible. I'm not sure if this cable was long enough to do that but I just may have done this the hard way. Anyway, thanks for your info!
I just got the starter in and jacked up the car and took off the passenger tire for wiring just a ratchet needed
Glad to help, hope it works out good for ya!
Es usted un gran maestro. hello!
for what its worth put a 2x6 block on your jack and gently lift the entire engine up a couple of inches and flip the starter over and undo the wire looking right at them hook em back up that way too,its even better if you have an engine hoist hook it up by the power steering pump and lift her that way. works fer me and gives you way more room.thats how i do it.
Thanks for the info. Either way, they are a pain!
I agree and no prob!
Anytime, I'm here to help!
Thanks for the video. That thing is a bugger. Some idiot engineer should be forced to do that himself every day for 10 years. Maybe then we wouldn't have to deal with that poor engineering anymore. Your video was alot of help
Thanks for your comment! Seems they try to make things difficult hoping most people will just take it to a garage or back to the dealer.
And from the sticker on the starter it seems some people loose their temper getting the new one back in
Hey I need to ask you a question. Do you know how to tell if a the new starter needs shims, if you no longer have your old one. I replaced my starter, and it had no shims, now my starter housing is broken. I am sure now it needed shims. How do I decide what size?
Thanks, if I had more time, I'd fix something every day and post it!
where did you get that little swivle wratchet, who makes it, thats the key to the whole thing right there....
Anytime! Thanks!
Did you watch the video to the end?
You may need jack up engine to get starter out mine seems to have dropped over the course of 17 years 😁
I have a 99 v6. I easily took the wires off the starter thru the right wheel well and put them back on. Just lift the flap. Haynes manual was much better
julius bishop I tried that too but could not get in there enough to take wires off.
thanks 4 the vid. made it a lot easier. do you have any vids on how to get the 4wheel drive working? goes in and out when it wants and itll try turning the tires butt it don't. the cable was messed up butt I fixed it so it moves. like I said though, it doesn't pull itself or even push itself. thanks
pull out your battery and see if you have vacuum at the actuator under the bat tray. make sure the rubber isnt punctured and hose is on good.check the whole hose for cracks.if it cant pull the wire it wont engage.otherwise i believe the switch sometimes goes bad on them i think it gets tranny fluid in it google it.never happened to me though.just the dang actuator
got the actuator working for the most part butt it still does the same. ill have to double check the line.
Any luck with this?
I have a 99 GMC Jimmy 4x4. 4.3.L and the starter went out. I got the old one out put can't seem to get the new one in. All kinds of clearance issues. Can anyone tell me how to get more room ? Thanks..
At 3:39 have you tried putting it back in the same position as I had done it?
@@MudRFunR
Yes sir. I tried to follow your video as best as I could and I can't get past or clearance where the mounting bolts go. That collar keeps hitting everywhere had the solenoid turned to the left as I saw. Thanks..
why didn't you start up the GMC Jimmy after starter installation man.
Can't do a start with the gas tank out.
hey, is the starter in the video set up the same as in and older blazer? like an 87?
This reply probably comes too late but the 87 is different. The frame is different and I believe the starter is bigger.
My 2000 clever blazer is getting no power won't crank no lights nothing, I was told it might be the starter does that sound right?
This does not sound like a starter to me. Have you tried boosting it? If you still have no power after boosting, check your ground wire and the positive connection. If anything might be starter related, it would be a loose power wire at the starter but not likely the starter itself.
Do you have to drop the tank?
No, I did everything exactly as shown on the video.
I did watch the video to the end don't see any start up on GMC jimmy.
You need to speak up.
I did it without the knuckle. Put the socket on first, then the extension, then the ratchet, got it off no problem. And back on the same way. SWEET!
Hopefully you may be able to help me with a starter issue on a 99 jimmy. First I had voltage being drained from my battery. I checked through the started relay and there was a .01 draw. When I tested with the volt meter, I forced the red and black ends into the relay slots in the fuse box. WELL then the relay didn't make contacts. I bent the prongs on the relay so it would make contact. I had the Jimmy being jumped and when I went to start the jimmy, the starter didn't turn off, even with the key off and out of the ignition.
Now here is my question. Is it possible that I messed up the relay and now the starter doesn't stop getting power? OR by some freak chance the sylonoid just went out when I jumped it that time?
Any input would help me alot! I mean to me it sounds like its the starter, the relay wouldn't provide constant power with the ignition off....
I honestly don't know what to tell you aside from my experience. I'm working on an S10. We had started it many times and then one time the starter would not stop. The small wire (usually purple) was just barely touching the big red wire at the solenoid. Is this purple wire touching another power wire or terminal somewhere? If not, maybe you did blow the relay.
dang, yeah it sounds like the starter to me, but since I was messing around with the relay I was thinking maybe I messed something up there... have you ever put new wires into the fuse box under the hood? I'm not sure if the wires pull out of the back side? I need to squeeze all the wire connectors together a little bit. I forced the ends of the volt meter in the slots and my relay was sloppy and went in and out too easy. one of my dumn ass moves! lol! I guess I could try one of the other relays, but I don't think any make a good connection in that spot now
And Thanks for the feedback! :)
Josh Yup yeah, for some reason I can't find a damn thing on how to take out and put in the wires in the back of a fuse box. It doesn't look too difficult once it's apart
Sorry, I've never taken wires out of a fuse box.
I bought this one at Napa in a bargain bin. I looked and there is no name, no "made in" where ever, not even a symbol of some sort. I see you are from the US, so not sure wher to find it there. Canadian Tire also sells a Mastercraft ratchet like that too, but that probably won't help you. Hope you find one.
Is it true you can smack the starter with a hammer to get it to work again?
Sometimes a starter will work if you tap it with a hammer but it will not fix it. It may start but be careful not to break any plastic.If it does start, you will probably have to tap it again the next time you want it to start.
MudRFunR ok, I got my starter totally unhooked, but I cant get it out. no matter which way I turn it, it will not come out. did you move the tranny? cuz I am doing this in a parking lot, as I cannot afford a shop or towing...
No I did not move anything. At 2:24 you will see exactly the way the starter is turned when I pull it out. This worked for me.
Really good video you just talk way too quiet. I could Beally hear you throughout the whole video
Having a hard time with the removal of the starter on the 85 4x4 model with v6. Does someone have experience maybe
Sorry for not being there to help. I'm a bit behind with replies.
thanks very helpuly
Good video, only problem is you aren't speaking very loud....
Sorry about that.
thank you mudr funr
Just glad to help. Thanks for your comment!
Cant hear
Marques Atchison Sorry, I should have maybe added captions in some parts.
How bout an 06 smilar prob ,, but can't get it out,, at all,, 5.3 4x4
Can't hear a word you are saying
Geez. I'm deaf and heard every word he said.
Thanks, if I had more time, I'd fix something every day and post it!