what is the year make & modle of the motor your working on?
First remove the battery from the vehicle. then remove the two 10mm bolts on the top side of the battery tray and the one on the bottom side and remove it. remove the positive wires from the starter. the nut is a 12mm. there are two 12mm bolts that hold the starter bracket to the top of the transmission. remove them. if it is a manual trnsmission, remove the two 12mm nuts hold the clutch cable in place. this is so the bracket on the starter will clear the cable with ease. then remove the two 14mm bolts holding the starter in place.
there are only 2 bolts one on top and one on the bottom assuming that you have removed the wires (there is a small 5mm bolt the holds a connection to the starter, the bolts that actually hold the starter on are 15mm i believe.
if it is like my 95 take the housing off that covers the bottom of your flywheel. this helps alot and will make it easier to remove ths starter. you will still have to cuz alittle. the top bolt that holds the starter is alittle difficult to get to.
I was a mechanic on Mazdas for 9 years. Can't remember the particular model 1998, but generally, here's how to remove the starter on a 90's Protege: Disconnect the negative battery terminal to remove power from the starter. The starter and starter solenoid are one unit. There should be 2 or 3 14mm bolts holding the starter to the tranny. At least one of these bolts is accessed from above the transmission, requiring the removal of (at least)the air filter housing and intake, and the battery and tray if you want to make it easy on yourself. Remove those first, then remove the top starter bolt before you go under the car. You might be able to access the top bolt from the left wheel well if you take out the plastic splash guard behind the left wheel, and have a nice long extension with a "wobbly" 14mm socket. There are a number of 10mm bolts and a few plastic fasteners that hold this on. I believe the starter is located behind a bracket that supports the intake manifold from the engiine block. Remove the 4 bolts on this bracket and remove it from the vehicle. The starter wire may be attached to this bracket with a plastic clip, just undo the clip and the bracket should come right out. The bolts that hold the bracket on the manifold end are usually pretty hard to get to; be patient. Once you have access to the starter, there should be either 1 or two bolts that hold the starter in on the bottom. Remove the bolts and carefully remove the starter from it's position in the transmission. Once you have the starter free, remove the starter cable and the small wire from the clip on the starter solenoid. Re-install in reverse order.
To remove the starter you just disconect the starter cable & the push-on relay connector from the solenoid. Then unfasten the starter retaining bolts and remove the starter. To install the starter, put the bolts in the top and bottom figer-tight. Then (starting with the top most bolt & working down)tighten the bolts (to 15-20 ft. lbs.)
Gas engine has a bolt at the top and a nut on a stud on the bottom. The diesel starter is held by three bolts.Gas engine has a bolt at the top and a nut on a stud on the bottom. The diesel starter is held by three bolts.
Disconnect the - battery cable Raise and support vehicle Remove wiring at top of starter Remove starter mounting bolts Remove starter Disconnect the - battery cable Raise and support vehicle Remove wiring at top of starter Remove starter mounting bolts Remove starter
I found you have to remove the upper intake manifold, to get to two size 15mm bolts on top bracket. Then there are three bolts on the bottom of bracket. You will have to lift and support front of the car. Bolts must be taken off from bottom. Then the bracket slide towards passenger side of car.
The starter is removed from the bottom of the car, you will have to raise the front to be able to remove the two bolts thet are holding the starter to the transmission and the bracket on the back, the top bolt will be kind of dificult but with the right tools it is easier, just remember to hook all the wires back in the right place.
Disconnect the - battery cable Remove wire at top of starter Remove Starter mounting bolts Remove starter
if it bolts on the starter assembly you are probably talking about the starter solenoid. basically its what makes the starter engage. if its a sensor that just bolts near the starter it could be anything from a crank position sensor to a knock sensor.
There are two bolts on the bottom side of the starter, they have 15mm head size.