been having starter problems lately. Occationally it wont start, especially in hot weather. Whenever it doesnt want to start, the starter doesnt turn over at all. i bought a used one online for $45, but now I have no way of installing it. It seemed easy enough to install until I found out that the engine needs to be lifted in order to get to it. Anyone have any experience with this problem and if so a price estimate from a mechanic? I've also been asking my friends if they know anyone w/ a shop or an engine hoist that they'll let me use.

 

Is it a 2.5 or a 3.2? I have no experience with the 2.5, but I did my own starter in my 3.2 last summer. You don't have to lift the engine, but you DO have to pull out the driver's side axle. This will allow you to remove the starter. The top bolt on the rear side is a PAIN IN THE A@# to loosen and especially tighten, but it will go. I would recommend re-building the one you have as a spare, as the guy who re-built mine said that the original design is what makes it fail. He rebuilt it with stronger pices inside. (bushings, burshes, etc.) and it cost me 1/5 of what the dealer wanted for a new one! Hope this helps...

 

2.5, how can I rebuild it?

 

Weak/dead starters should be listed on the 'Common Problems' thread. Mine has sounded like it's on it's last leg for the past year and a half. But strangely it keeps going

 

Just wait, that's what was happening w/ mine, when it began to not start sometimes. Now, especially when its hot, it doesnt start or turn over at all. The problem gets worse with time. Fix it before it's too late and you end up like me.

 

It only happens to me when its cold out.

 

Jons,

You'll have to send it in to a re-build shop to have it done. I don't know what it's like where you are in CA, but there are quite a few around here. Check the Yellow pages, and you should be able to find one.

 

our (3.2TL) starter started acting flakely at about 85-90k or so miles, don't remember exactly. my wife got stranded out in east podunk once with another car, so we weren't taking a chance with this one. total cost was something like $700 if I remember right. I had a shop install the new starter. Most of the cost was the starter (it was something like $600 I think).

 

I just looked in Chilton's again and I found that for the 2.5L engine, the intake manifold rear bracket assembly is what needs to be removed. This is great news, since when my dad looked in the book, he said that we had to lift the engine. However, for the 3.5Rl's, you do have to lift the engine. BTW, Cornflake, how much did it cost to get it rebuilt?

 

The rebuild itself cost me about $220 CDN. (At current exchange rate, about $165 USD). Acura wanted $700 for a new one!!!

 

I found a guy who will rebuild for $80-90