How do you change a starter on a 1996 Chevy Lumina mini van?

Well, .. for a 1994 Lumina APV - here's what I did: I replaced the starter in my 1994 Lumina APV (3.8 L V6) after about 120,000 miles. Symptom was that the starter would turn over very slowly when the engine was hot. Nice gentleman @ Autozone told me that the coils tend to deteriorate and heat conducted from the engine causes the starter to heat up and then draw high current when hot. Cold starts were fine - hot starts caused the starter to turn very slowly (like the battery was drained). He tested the starter and it tripped the breaker on the tester two (2) times.

Got a remanufactured one for ~$65.

Here's what I did.

1) Disconnect cable from negative battery terminal

2) Raise vehicle front and suitably and safely support.

3) Remove cover from starter wiring (small right angle-like black plastic cover).

3) Loosen large wiring harness (underneath starter) so that it can be moved out of the way.

4) Remove outer nut and wires from solenoid.

5) Remove outer nut and wires wires from starter.

6) Remove two (2) screws retaining plastic flywheel cover and cover. You will need to do this - otherwise you will be unable to remove the front bolt holding the starter to the engine block. This cover is a small black plstic piece located where starter penertates the flywheel cover.

7) Remove (2) bolts retaining starter to the engine block. One is accessable towards the front of the starter/vehicile and the other (long one) is towards the rear of the vehicle - just behind the frame cross member.

8) Position starter so that if can be dropped down (flywheel gear part first).

9) Reverse the above instructions to install the new starter/solenoid.

Palmboy (6/25/05)