Starter Replacement w/o removing the motor mount

**D.K** · 10-04-2009 01:35 PM

Let me start off by saying, **DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK**

If you've ever done any type of automotive work, this job is pretty straight forward, however, it's also a huge pain in the butt.

In this DIY, my DPs are off since I was replacing them at the same time, but you should still be able to remove/replace the starter with the DPs on...you'll just have less clearance.

First, get your car up on ramps or jackstands, and disconnect the battery.

Tools you will need for removing/installing the starter:
- ratchet
- 13mm socket
- 16mm socket
- 18mm deep socket

Locate the starter underneath the car.

Before removing the 2 starter mounting bolts, there are 3 electrical connections that will need to be disconnected. On the far side of the starter there is a electrical connector that needs to be unclipped as well as a power wire that is secured with a 13mm nut. On the near side, there is a ground wire held by a 13mm bolt just below the bottom starter mounting bolt.
Now you can undo the 2 mounting bolts. The top bolt is a 16mm and the bottom bolt is an 18. The bottom bolt is a through bolt, so you may need to use a 16mm wrench/socket on the other side to prevent it from spinning.

There is just enough room to maneuver the starter out, and it's going to take a few tries to find that spot that allows the starter to slip free.

In the above pic, you can see the motor mount and the open center portion between the mount and the engine where you will need to slide the starter. You will need to wiggle the starter far enough through the opening to clear the starter snout from the starter mounting location. Once you get enough space, tilt the starter towards the passenger side and then out.

Installation is the reverse , however, I found that I needed to grind down the snout of the replacement starter as it was slightly longer than factory and wouldn't clear.

**audimotion** · 10-04-2009 01:42 PM

Nice write up. This should help a lot out with this problem. Hope new starter works as well as mine. Cheers!

**SuperAvant** · 10-04-2009 02:12 PM

I just did this except I disconnected the solenoid from the starter slightly for extra play. However everything is bolted back up and still no start, no nothing with the new starter. Grrr any ideas??

**D.K** · 10-05-2009 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by SuperAvant

I just did this except I disconnected the solenoid from the starter slightly for extra play. However everything is bolted back up and still no start, no nothing with the new starter. Grrr any ideas??

Have you checked all related fuses? When you disconected the solenoid, did you get it snugged back up tightly? It's also possible that the replacement starter is bad. Have you tried Justincredible's starter check procedure to make sure the starter is good? Good luck getting everything resolved!

**jdparkes** · 01-06-2010 06:33 PM

Im currently attempting this and Im not sure how you reached in there to disconnect the wires...HELP

**D.K** · 01-07-2010 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by jdparkes

Im currently attempting this and Im not sure how you reached in there to disconnect the wires...HELP

It's a pain no doubt due to the limited space. I positioned my body pretty much directly under the starter, and reached up and over to the wires...basically working blind and going by feel. Once you get a feel for how the connector is positioned, you can get an idea of where the clip is located and work with it to get it unclipped.
The 13mm bolt connecting the power wire will need a relatively small ratchet...1/4" drive if you have it, but I made it work with a 3/8". Once you loosen the bolt, you can remove the ratchet and use the 13mm socket to spin the bolt off with your fingers.
Good Luck!

**jdparkes** · 01-10-2010 12:24 PM

Thanks for the help

**jdparkes** · 01-10-2010 05:16 PM

GOD doing this in 6 degree weather BLOWS.... The plastic is so stiff on the connector I cant get it off. FML

**jdparkes** · 01-10-2010 07:12 PM

Ive got the power and ground off but my friend and I are both finding it near impossible to get the plastic connector off... what did you use? Did it just come off by hand or did you finagle some tool in there?

**D.K** · 01-11-2010 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by jdparkes

Ive got the power and ground off but my friend and I are both finding it near impossible to get the plastic connector off... what did you use? Did it just come off by hand or did you finagle some tool in there?

I just used my fingers. I can't remember offhand if it's a locking type of connector or not. You may have to push in, squeeze, and then unclip, or something to that effect. If you can't get a clear enough view of the clipped portion of the connector, you may want to try to get a mirror and light up in there to see exactly what you're looking at.

I don't envy you doing this job in 6 degree weather at all!

**jdparkes** · 01-11-2010 09:55 PM

Thanks for all your help D.K. I finished the install tonight... of course the car wont start cause the battery is low but thats another story

**mountainsnbirds** · 01-11-2010 10:14 PM

nice write up and perfect timing to....im most likely doing this next week!

**D.K** · 01-12-2010 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by jdparkes

Thanks for all your help D.K. I finished the install tonight... of course the car wont start cause the battery is low but thats another story

Glad I could help.

**rlee6462** · 10-15-2010 11:56 PM

Here are some pics of how I replaced my starter. It only took 2.5 hours to do, and seemed fairly easy...of course it was done by a trained mechanic...who is my friend.

Motor mount and other piece removed to allow more space.

Starter Removed. It is a Valeo starter.

This is where we went in and of the starter removed.

Look at the space to work with.

This is how we kept the motor in place after removing the motor mount.

New starter in.

**Nova** · 10-30-2010 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by D.K

Glad I could help.

Hi Everyone,
I recently purchased an 05 S4 Avant and have had the starting issues noted on the forums. I decided to buy the starter and install it myself knowing it was a PITA and it has been!

I have the old starter out but cant get the new one back in....I think I have two options 1) Grind the starter to make it fit; and 2) remove the engine mount (right image) - for some reason I can only get to 2 of the three bolts shown? I was able to get the bracket out (left image).

I would prefer to take out the engine mount but as mentioned I cant find the bolt!

Any help would be appreciated!

**nfs1000f** · 10-31-2010 05:29 AM

I just replaced my starter a few weeks back and it was a major PIA. I have read that some members had the starter motor ground down to fit. I did not do this since I bought OEM (Valeo). I did not remove the motor mounts, but rather removed the solenoid from the starter to allowing it to be removed and installed. Screwing the solenoid back onto the newly installed starter is no easy task, but I thought it would be easier than messing with the motor mounts. If you search you will find a couple of posts about my ordeal.

**Nova** · 11-02-2010 06:49 PM

Thanks for the info nfs1000f. That must have been a real challenge to remove the solenoid and install it in the tight space...anything to watch out for when unbolting the solenoid?
I attempted to file down the snub of my new valeo starter to see if that would allow it to fit but still no dice - in fact I went a little to far and a hole appeared!! Hope I haven't weakened it?! Had to put the old one back in for now.

I have to do my serpentine belt soon, so I am wondering if I will have access to that illusive engine mount bolt I couldn't get to.

**Nova** · 11-02-2010 07:18 PM

So that its clearer for readers...

The engine mount has three bolts, the two in blue I can get and the third red one I can't get.

Engine mount is attached here, so without removing the third bolt I can't get the bracket off.

rlee6462 - any ideas since you seem to have gotten it off?

Cheers,

**nfs1000f** · 11-03-2010 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by Nova

Thanks for the info nfs1000f. That must have been a real challenge to remove the solenoid and install it in the tight space...anything to watch out for when unbolting the solenoid?

Nothing really when removing since the starter and solenoid are throw away items. I did not remove the ground from the solenoid when removing and there was still enough play to maneuver the starter out. However, when I installed the new motor I removed the ground because I was afraid all the twisting of the solenoid to get it in would break the copper wire. When installing the new starter with the solenoid removed you have to be very careful the guts of the solenoid inside the fixed part attached to the starter do not fall out.

One spot I lost a lot of time on when removing the old starter was removing the positive cable from the starter since I could not get a socket over the nut. It turns out the black plastic connector above the nut needs to removed first to make room for the socket. Hope this helps and good luck!!

**CLDFRZE** · 10-08-2018 02:54 PM

I have just removed my starter, would also like to add some helpful advice or knowledge that I have gained from my experience.

Here's what I have learned:

-if your car is stock, and has not been messed with, starter wise, you don't need to unplug the electrical connector. Instead, remove the plastic holders that secure the two wires at specific locations. (There are three) There is enough length for you to pull the starter out and disconnect at a better angle, and use the a flat head screw driver if needed like me. My connector was dry rotted and the piece that was suppose to release it, just broke all to little pieces. I did not try to leave the main power wire hooked up, but both wires are tied together within the same conduit, so it could be possible to not to have to remove any of the wires. I will attempt to put both wires on starter before install, and see if there is enough space.

-so, finding that 'sweet spot' was impossible. I saw where it needed to go, but it just wasn't gonna happen. So, I laid there, thinking of my options. I finally decided to investigate removal of the motor mount. I loosened the bottom Allen bolt. What did I just witness?! It moved away from the engine. Ooo, maybe I have enough room now?! Nope. So, I turned it a little more. Then it got to a point where it doesn't move away anymore, and your just removing the bolt, which I didn't want to do. So, I loosened up the upper bolt. Oh my, it pulled away again! Do I have enough clearance now? Yes, yes I do!!! My investigation resulted in loosening the two mount bolts, but not removing, which gave me the ability to remove the starter, with the wire connector still attached.

So, it would have been a quick job, (uninstalling), but I had to learn the trick first. The thing that prevents us from removing the starter, is the hump on the starter for the long bolt. So, before I removed my starter, and found the way to get it out, I marked my mount and plain on notching it to allow that part of the starter to pass. Don't need much.

I would also like to point out, that I did not access the starter, with my hands, from directly underneath, in between the sway bar and cross member. Instead, I came from behind, where you are going to bring the starter once it is out.

**CLDFRZE** · 10-14-2018 07:50 AM

Received my starter so, I will add an update to my installation.

- I tried hooking up the plastic connector first, then move the starter into position. After 20 mins or so, of struggling, I brought the starter back out, and took the plastic connector back off, then located the starter, and it dropped right in. So, the plastic connector is a good thing to remove; probably wise on installing/uninstalling. I had to remove the plastic connector another time, after I bolted the starter in, and since mine was broke and the ability to push down and release wasn't possible, I needed a new way to unclip it. I found that a pick, with a bend worked very well.

- As nfs100f stated above, the reason I had to remove the connector is the fact that you need to attach the main battery cable before you connect the connector. I suppose you could grind down the end of the main battery cable, then you wouldn't have to worry about it. It is easier to plug in the connector without the main battery cable in the way, but not impossible.

Anyways, doing this job, was a great learning experience, and much easier to install, only took about an hour to install. I may never have to do it again, but hopefully my little bit of info, will help the next person.

**Rol-co** · 11-04-2023 01:58 PM

Did a starter change too on an automatic S4

Remove engine under covers
Lift engine a little with a jack
Remove the 4 nuts of the sway bar and loosen the 2 at the end tips of it, sway bar can swing down 12 inches
Remove 13mm nut at the motor mount and take the cable bracket off
Remove second nut at the motor mount
Remove the 3 bracket/subframe bolt and take the bracket out
Remove the 2 steel pipe brackets nut 10mm
Remove the 3 inbus bolts of the engine mount bracket with some extensions and remove together with mount, unplug the mount connector
Unbold the 2 bolts holding the starter, transmission side is a pain in the ass but wit a lot of extensions its possible from the catalytic converter side.
Take the starter out with cables attached and take the cables and connector off.

Mount in reverse way.