How to Reinstall a Starter on a 1998 Cavalier

The Chevrolet Cavalier first hit showrooms for the 1982 model year as the long-awaited replacement for the Chevy Vega and Monza. The 1998 Cavalier came standard with a 2.2-liter engine that cranked out 115 horsepower. The 1998 Cavalier Z24, however, came with a 150-horsepower, 2.4-liter engine. Both engines utilized a high-torque electric motor, known as a starter, to turn the engine over during ignition. Over time, this starter can fail. Replacing the starter on both engines requires attention to detail.

Instructions

Starter on a 2.2-liter Engine

1

Loosen the negative battery cable from the battery, using a combination wrench, and pull the cable from the battery.

2

Raise the front of the Cavalier, using a floor jack, and place jack stands under the Cavalier's subframe. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands and remove the floor jack.

3

Crawl under the front of the Cavalier, where the engine and transmission meet, and locate the starter. Label the two wires connecting to the rear of the starter, using masking tape and a permanent marker. Remove the nut securing each wire, with a ratchet and socket, and pull both wires from the starter.

4

Remove the thin, metal cover -- the bell-housing cover -- where the engine and transmission meet, by removing the three bolts, with a ratchet and socket, and pulling the bell-housing cover from the transmission.

5

Remove the bolt securing the starter brace -- on the rear of the starter -- to the engine, using a ratchet and socket.

6

Remove the two bolts on the bottom of the starter, near the transmission, with a ratchet and socket. Pull the starter away from the transmission and then down from the engine. Use caution, as the starter is deceptively heavy. Notice that one starter bolt is longer than the other; you must reinstall these bolts in the same positions.

7

Remove the nut holding the starter bracket to the starter, using a ratchet and socket, and remove the bracket. Transfer this bracket to the new starter and tighten the nut.

8

Insert the gear-side of the starter into the hole in the transmission and hand-tighten the starter bolts in their appropriate holes. Torque the starter bolts to 32 foot-pounds and the starter bracket-to-engine bolt to 24 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

9

Reinstall the bell-housing cover and tighten the bolts with a ratchet and socket.

10

Reconnect the wires to the starter just as they were on the old starter. Tighten the power wire -- the red cable -- nut to 8 to 9 foot-pounds and the "S" terminal nut to 1 to 2 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

11

Raise the Cavalier from the jack stands, using the floor jack, and remove the jack stands. Lower the Cavalier to the ground.

12

Reinstall the negative battery cable and tighten it to 11 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench.

Starter on a 2.4-liter Engine

13

Loosen the negative battery cable, using a combination wrench, and pull it from the battery.

14

Loosen the four screws on the air-filter lid, using a Philips screwdriver. Loosen the hose clamp securing the air intake hose to the throttle body. Remove the air-filter lid and air intake hose as an assembly.

15

Locate the top starter bolt going through the top of the transmission bell-housing and into the starter. Remove this upper starter bolt with a ratchet and socket.

16

Raise the front of the Cavalier, using a floor jack, and slide jack stands under the Cavalier's subframe. Lower the car onto the jack stands.

17

Crawl under the engine and label the wires connecting into the rear of the starter, using masking tape and a permanent marker. Remove the nuts retaining the two wires, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the wires from the rear of the starter.

18

Remove the lower starter-to-bell-housing bolt, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the starter out of the transmission and down from the engine. You may need to move the engine wiring harness slightly to remove the starter. Use caution as the starter is fairly heavy.

19

Place the starter into the hole in the transmission bell-housing and hand-tighten the two starter bolts. Torque the lower starter bolt to 66 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

20

Set the wires on their respective studs on the rear of the new starter. Torque the power wire -- the red cable -- nut to 8 to 9 foot-pounds and the "S" terminal nut to 1 to 2 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

21

Raise the Cavalier off of the jack stands, using a floor jack, and remove the jack stands. Lower the car to the ground.

22

Install the upper starter-to-transmission bell-housing bolt and torque it to 66 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

23

Reinstall the air intake tube to the throttle body and set the air-filter lid on the air-filter box. Tighten the hose clamp holding the air intake hose to the throttle body and the air-filter lid screws with a Phillips screwdriver.

24

Reconnect the negative battery cable and tighten its bolt to 11 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.