How do you remove a starter in a 1991 Toyota Corolla?

Answer 1

On a 1991 sedan 4A FE engine (dual overhead cam) with an automatic transmission the starter is tucked in a fairly tight spot beneath the intake manifold. But access to it is easier than it first looks. Get a good drop light, disconnect the negative lead to the battery, put the car in park with e brake on, block the opposite wheels with chocks, jack up the driver side front of the car, use jack stands, and follow the steps below:

1) Unclip and remove the top to the aircleaner, the air cleaner filter, and unbolt the 3 bolts holding the base of the aircleaner using a socket wrench.

2) Remove the remaining black plastic section and 3 inch diameter rubber hose that leads from the air cleaner to the throttle body. There are two large hose clamps that need to be loosened in order to pull the hose free from the large opening of the throttle body. Be careful to not damage the various surrounding vacuum lines in the process.

3) Now standing on the driver's side with a bright drop light, look toward the region where you removed the 3 bolts that held the base of the aircleaner in place. Angle the light so that it shines toward the direction of the right front wheel (passenger side wheel) perpendicular to and just beyond the 1 inch diameter black bundle of wiring harness. There is a bracket that holds this wiring harness bundle in place. Remove this bracket and bolt with a 13 mm ( I think) open end wrench. Now you will clearly be able to see the top bolt head (facing you) that holds the starter motor.

4) Use a long extension and a 14 mm socket to loosen this starter moter bolt part of the way.

5) Now get under the car beneath the drive axles with the drop light and look up toward where you loosened the top bolt of the starter. Locate the starter.

6) Use a socket, universal, and extension to unbolt the nut on the bottom of the starter moter that connects the thick wire lead that has the rubber boot over the nut. Also unplug the thin wire lead that clips onto the starter.

7) There are only two bolts that hold the starter in place and you have already loosened the top bolt. Now it's time to remove the second (lower) bolt. Use a long extension and a 14 mm socket. Undo it all the way. Now, the only thing holding the starter is the partly removed top bolt.

8) While you are underneath the car, reaching up and holding the starter with your right hand, have a friend totally remove the top bolt so that the starter is totally free.

9) Remove the starter by angling it toward the front right fender plastic splash gard. My splash gard was flexible enough for me to bend it with my right elbow so that the starter could be removed easily enough. On your car, you may need to remove a few of the screws that hold that part of the plastic splash gard so that it becomes bendable enough to provide room for removal of the starter.