Concrete and blacktop are the preferred surfaces for jacking up a vehicle. Never jack a vehicle up on grass, dirt or gravel.
Tuck the cable to the side of the battery to ensure it can’t come into contact with the terminal. You will not need to disconnect the positive cable.
If you are unsure where the designated jack points are for your vehicle, refer to the owner’s manual. Be careful not to jack the vehicle up in an area that can’t support the weight of the vehicle or you may do frame damage.
Jack stands will not allow the vehicle to drop below the set height on the stand. Hydraulic jacks may allow the vehicle to lower at an unpredictable rate without stands to support the vehicle.
If you are unable to locate the starter, refer to the service manual for your vehicle for further guidance. If your vehicle’s starter solenoid is not attached to the starter, use your vehicle’s service manual to locate it.
Marking the wires before you disconnect them will allow you to easily determine which wire connects where on the new solenoid. If your solenoid has four wires going into it, be sure to mark the fourth accordingly.
If you have to remove hardware to disconnect the wires, set them aside someplace safe.
If you can access the solenoid easily without removing the starter, there is no need to remove it. Be sure to keep the bolts you remove in a safe place for reuse when putting the starter back in.
You may need to spray the fasteners with a rust remover like WD40 in order to loosen them. Be careful not to break the bolts as you remove them.
The solenoid will pop out when you apply enough force. Be sure the fasteners are removed before pulling on the solenoid, otherwise it will not release.
The terminal marked with the letter “I” is used only for vehicles that have four wires going to their starter solenoid. If your vehicle came with three wires, a four terminal solenoid will work provided you connect the wires in the right way.
Be careful not to press the solenoid in at an angle.
If the screws were damaged as you removed them, replace them with identical fasteners from your local hardware or auto parts store.
You may want to have your starter tested at a local auto parts store before reinstalling it to ensure there are no issues. Be careful not to allow any debris to fall into the hole as you put the starter back into place.
Once connected, reconnect the battery and attempt to start the vehicle. Be sure the batter has a full charge or the starter will not initiate.
