Installing/Removing A Starter In Your Nissan Maxima (00-01)
Works For Most 4th and 5th Gen Maximas
Tools neccesary:
- 8mm,10mm,12mm,14mm, and 17mm sockets
- Flathead screwdriver (optional in place of 8mm socket)
- Possibly "Breaker Bar" or "Pry Bar"
BEFORE YOU START
If you are ordering a new starter, please save yourself a lot of wasted time, money, and hassle...BUY FROM DAVE B. @ Sothpoint Nissan. He was extremely fast with his shipping and obviously his price for .orgers was untouched by anyone. Two thumbs up!
Breaker Bar?
Any standard metal piece of piping will work as a slip on extension for the handle of your wrench. The added length of the handle will give you enough torque in some applications to release bolts that are too tough to free up otherwise. This was needed on my 2000 Maxima for the 17mm bolt on the back of the starter.
Ok so jumping into it:
1. First off before anything else...DISCONNECT YOUR BATTERY. Failure to do this will most likely result in shorting a connection or blowing a fuse in this specific install. (Speaking from experience)
2. Next, Remove the electrical harness attached to your Mass Air Flow Sensor. This is the piece indicated in the picture with the arrow. Just push the green release tab in a downward direction to free the harness and release the wire loom from the airbox via the other two tabs holding it in place on top of your airbox.
3. Now pull this away from the airbox and set aside.
4. Now you can loosen your hose clamp on the intake and remove your air filter from the airbox as this is a good time to check it anyways for debri and urgency for cleaning. This is simply removed by releasing the two silver clips by hand and pulling the filter upwards.
Before & After:
5. Now you can remove all of the srews holding your airbox in place. These are indicated by the yellow airows and all of them will come out relatively easy. Looking at your engine bay from the front of your vehicle there will be two screws located on the top of the airbox, one to the right by your fuse box, one between your battery and the box down low, and one on the left in a rubber bushing.
6. With your MAF harness removed and your hoseclamp loosened you can now pull your airbox out with a little persuasion (gently rotate the entire assembly freeing it). Pull out the entire box and set aside.
7. Now that you can actually access the stater assembly you will want to remove the +12V lead to the starter solenoid and the the signal wire harness as well. The bigger wire is your +12V lead from the battery and can be removed by the 12mm nut underneath the rubber boot. The signal wire has a harness which is easily disconnected by hand and removed from the holding brace.
8. With the wiring now disconnected from the starter assembly, go ahead and remove the 14mm bolt in the front of the starter motor (closest of the two bolts to you).
9. Almost done, just remove the remaining 17mm bolt in the rear of the assembly as indicated by the arrow and the starter is free.
*This is where I needed the breaker bar. I could not free this bolt with the wrench alone to save my life.
10. Pull the starter assembly out and test/replace. I was able to have a local discount/advanced auto parts check my starter to ensure this was the problem for free. Installation is the reverse of removal.
Write Up: Kevin Kryzda
***Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for any damage to your vehicle as a result of these GUIDELINES. These are for sole purpose of pointing you in the right direction.***
