How to replace the starter?

[Deebo16]

I've been searching and searching and searching, but can't find a DIY on how to replace the starter on my A4 1.8t. Can anyone point me to a DIY with pictures or provide the info? It would be greatly appreciated. I don't feel like paying $400 to get this done. I've found the part for $180 at Advance Auto, so I figured I'd look online to see if I can give it a shot myself.

Thanks in advance.

[onceover]

It's pretty self explanitory when you get started. 3 (I believe) bolts that go through the tranny, a ground wire, couple other things and its out.

[Deebo16]

Thanks. Is it on the driver or passenger side? Also is it easier to get to from the top or bottom?

[onceover]

I'm assuming you have a 1.8T?

Passenger side, from underneath. Also remember to disconnect the battery when dealing with the starter

[Deebo16]

Ok thanks. I'll take a look later today and yes a 1.8t.

[Tech/Sales@JHM]

I've been searching and searching and searching, but can't find a DIY on how to replace the starter on my A4 1.8t. Can anyone point me to a DIY with pictures or provide the info? It would be greatly appreciated. I don't feel like paying $400 to get this done. I've found the part for $180 at Advance Auto, so I figured I'd look online to see if I can give it a shot myself.

Thanks in advance.

Deebo16-

We stock the starter for the 1.8t cheaper than the price you have listed above.
Additionally, these Starters are backed by a 1 year warranty.


Click Me For Starter!



If you have any questions regarding our products or would like help placing an order, feel free to give us a call!

[kwimberly]

Sent you a PM with a link to starter removal/installation instructions.


(Love JHM, but I'd imagine that the $15 decrease in price from JHM's re-manufactured starter will be eaten up by core exchange shipping charges...)

[joshb89]

Can you post the link? Or pm me also? I'm going to be doing mine here shortly ~~~

Thanks~

[msharifi]

What is the wireing connection? I took mine out need to know which wire goes where.

[HelchPE]

Sent you a PM with a link to starter removal/installation instructions.


(Love JHM, but I'd imagine that the $15 decrease in price from JHM's re-manufactured starter will be eaten up by core exchange shipping charges...)

Kevin would you post the link to the instructions? I'm doing a B5 build and am working on the electrical connections with no clue

[Seerlah]

[MacFady]

Just as an adjunct to the above for future searchers as it relates to doing it on a 1.8T AMB Auto/Quattro, a few notes/tips. I did this yesterday in my driveway with just the passenger side jacked up. Underneath, apart from the splash guard I didn't need to remove anything for access, not even the lower intercooler hose, no A/C compressor there as with some others setups, didn't put it into service position etc. There is a bracket holding some hard lines (? A/C) mounted to the bottom passenger side of the block (hex bolt) I found helpful to remove for the little increased access it gave to the lower starter bolt, in terms of being able to move the lines a little bit. Which I might add was harder, for me anyway, to remove than the rear one.

My process, after disconnecting the battery I removed the airbox completely, undid the 3 CAT bolts (which was way easier than I had anticipated) and undid the 13mm bolt going through the spring and bracket on the lower part of the downpipe (from below). This let me lift the cat up quite a bit and back a little, I just zip tied it to the hard line that runs along the passenger side of the engine. The rear starter bolt is easy to access with regular hand tools from above reaching under the cat (16mm). The only other bolt I had for the starter was the lower 16mm that runs through the front of the starter, which for removal I accessed from below (can also use a hex, it's the same as the size for the bracket on the block I mentioned above but I forget which size). Then simply remove the 13mm and 10mm bolt holding the wires on the starter. I had a snap on electrical harness on mine, I found it easiest to remove from the top with the cat out of the way, there is a red plastic sliding piece in the connector I pulled out (not completely) towards the front of the car then the harness just pulled off. I pulled the starter out from the top as well. I also found re-installing it and starting the two 16mm bolts mounting the starter easiest to do from the top, there is some aligning involved, then finishing off the lower bolt from the bottom once I was sure it was seated correctly.

In retrospect it was much easier than what I had thought after reading through what I could piece together online, at least on my specific model. I was dreading attempting it in the driveway in mid December. I would just suggest starting by removing the air box and elevating the cat, it really opens things up and lets you get eyes on everything, get a new gasket (8D0253115) if you need it. Those two things, while straight forward, were the most time consuming part but made the overall process much easier. That and generously soaking everything multiple times in Liquid wrench (eastern Canadian car with 270K).

[refueler]

When I replaced the starter on my 2002 1.8 with 5 spd. manual. I took the nut off of the bottom of each motor mount and removed the snub mount. Then I jacked the motor up an inch or so and that gave me enough room to get the starter out. Tight working space only took a hour and a half to change it out.