Quick starter replacement question...
Starting Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1
Changed out the starter in our 95 Blazer S-10 4X4 Auto today. Can be done without messing with the motor mounts. Remove starter bolts and remove starter from the bell housing. May need to force forward to remove. Tilt starter up in the back to see the primary wiring lead. Use extension and swivel socket to remove the lead and then cut the smaller wire about 3 inches from where it hooks to the solenoid. Remove the brace from the bell housing to the block on the bellhousing end. Bend down and then remove the starter. When going back reverse the process. Add about 6 inches of wire to the small wire so that you can hook it up with the starter on the floor. Replace starter in position outside of the bellhousing and connect up the primary wire. Once done then put starter in place and bolt up. Replace the brace and wire tie the excess wire out of the way. Went real good thanks to the forum posts that were here. Thanks all. 
Beginning Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 13
The factory starter is very difficult to remove from this vehicle. I'm sorry to say there is no "easy" way to do it.
You will need to remove the two main starter bolts first. On some there is also a small bracket attached to the rear of the starter that also will need to be removed from the starter as well as disconnected from the vehicle. Do not remove the transmission lines. This will cause more problems for you then it will solve.
Once all bolts and brackets are removed you will need to spend some time carefully rotating and repositioning the starter in order to get at the wires for removal. I believe you need to rotate the starter to the left and then angle the rear end up into the engine compartment in order to expose the wires.
This is no easy task, it takes some time and patience (and small hands) as the wires are short and rather stiff with obviously not much room to work in.
You will not be able to get a wrench in there to remove the wires. A long extension on a socket wrench and perhaps a u-joint swivel is the only way.
Once you finally get the wires disconnected you will have to spend several more minutes rotating the starter around to get just the right angle to get it out. If I recall correctly it will need to be both rotated as well as angled up into the engine compartment before you will be able to get it out of the very small hole that you have to work with.
It will take a while and can be a very frustrating task getting it positioned and turned around just right.
On the up side. The aftermarket starters are smaller and pretty much slide right in without much effort. Though the wires are still a bit of a pain to get reattached.
Good luck.
You will need to remove the two main starter bolts first. On some there is also a small bracket attached to the rear of the starter that also will need to be removed from the starter as well as disconnected from the vehicle. Do not remove the transmission lines. This will cause more problems for you then it will solve.
Once all bolts and brackets are removed you will need to spend some time carefully rotating and repositioning the starter in order to get at the wires for removal. I believe you need to rotate the starter to the left and then angle the rear end up into the engine compartment in order to expose the wires.
This is no easy task, it takes some time and patience (and small hands) as the wires are short and rather stiff with obviously not much room to work in.
You will not be able to get a wrench in there to remove the wires. A long extension on a socket wrench and perhaps a u-joint swivel is the only way.
Once you finally get the wires disconnected you will have to spend several more minutes rotating the starter around to get just the right angle to get it out. If I recall correctly it will need to be both rotated as well as angled up into the engine compartment before you will be able to get it out of the very small hole that you have to work with.
It will take a while and can be a very frustrating task getting it positioned and turned around just right.
On the up side. The aftermarket starters are smaller and pretty much slide right in without much effort. Though the wires are still a bit of a pain to get reattached.
Good luck.
Just changed my starter as above and it was actually easy.
I was prepared to take 2-3 hours but didn't even come close.
Thanks for the site.
Thanks for the info!
New Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4
Thanks Thogert! That is exactly what I thought it was, but I wasn't completely sure because all the starters I've ever dealt with were easy to get to from the top of the motor. I got it done and my Jimbo is running like new! Thanks everyone for all the help! I really appreciate it!