92 Buick Park Ave Starter Replacement

The 1992 Buick Park Avenue came in either a base model or ultra model. Both models came with a 3.8-liter V-6 and an automatic transmission. When you start your engine, the starter gear is engaged with the teeth on the flywheel and the starter motor rotates the flywheel and crankshaft to get the engine rotating enough for internal combustion to take over. On your 1992 Park Avenue, the starter and starter solenoid are on the frontside of the engine, where the engine and transmission meet, and are replaced as an entire assembly.

Instructions

Removal

1

Park the vehicle on a level surface and set the parking brake. Install the memory saver in the cigarette lighter socket. Lift the hood and support it with the hood prop rod. Loosen the negative battery cable with the socket and ratchet. Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery. Allow the vehicle to sit for a minimum of 10 minutes with the key off and the battery disconnected to allow the air bag system to discharge.

2

Lift the front of the vehicle into the air with the floor jack and place the jack stands under the front subframe. Lower the floor jack until the vehicle rests securely on the jack stands. Remove the floor jack.

3

Slide under the front of the vehicle and look up at the front side of the engine to locate the starter. Remove the starter shield with the socket and ratchet, if equipped. Disconnect the battery cable and starter solenoid cable from the starter with the socket and ratchet.

4

Loosen both of the starter mounting bolts with the socket and ratchet. Support the starter assembly by hand and remove the starter bolts. If there are any shims between the starter case and the engine, make a note of their location and position, as they will have to be installed with the new starter. Slide the starter back away from the transmission and lower it from the engine.

Installation

5

Slide the starter into position and line up the mounting holes with the bolt holes on the engine block. Install any shims that were removed with the original starter to their respective locations on the starter case. Hand-thread the starter bolts through the starter and into the block. Tighten the starter bolts to 35 foot-pounds with the torque wrench.

6

Install the solenoid wire to the small terminal on the starter and tighten the retaining nut snug with the socket and ratchet. Install the battery cable to the large terminal on the starter and tighten the retaining nut with the socket and ratchet. Install the starter shield and tighten the bolts snug with the socket and ratchet, if equipped.

7

Lift the front of the vehicle off the jack stands with the floor jack and remove the jack stands from under the vehicle. Lower the vehicle to the ground and remove the floor jack. Connect the negative battery cable and tighten the terminal bolt with the socket and ratchet.

8

Remove the memory saver. Start the engine to ensure proper function of the starter. If the starter is noisy during cranking you will have to remove the starter and add or remove a single .015-inch shim to the outer bolt at the mating surface of the engine and starter. If the starter makes a higher pitched noise after the engine has started add .015 double shims to the outer bolt until the noise stops.