replacing starter

[llewis]

Have a 1996 STS, it won't start, ran battery down last night

and now it won't even click when I turn key in ignition.

I have a Chilton 1990-1998 Gen. motors repair manual,but

even though I am a fair mech. I cant find the starter because

pics are unclear, is there a better source to locate starter?

If I can find I can replace it. Thanks, Larry

[Scotty]

Have a 1996 STS, it won't start, ran battery down last night

and now it won't even click when I turn key in ignition.

I have a Chilton 1990-1998 Gen. motors repair manual,but

even though I am a fair mech. I cant find the starter because

pics are unclear, is there a better source to locate starter?

If I can find I can replace it. Thanks, Larry

Don't be fast to replace the starter, they are rarely the problem. I have a 96 also, and the cables can be problematic! I carry a 5/16 wrench and wire brush in my car! Have your battery load tested and clean the battery cables especially the positive cable take it apart by pulling off the red insulator and clean it with baking soda and water or battery terminal cleaner that you purchase. Clicking is not necessarily a sign that you have a bad starter.

The starter by the way is under the intake manifold as follows:

[thu]

Exactly! I replaced the starter in my 93 Deville twice before I figured out it was the frickin' battery cable! At 298k miles with the original batt cable, I should have realized it was corroded.

It dawned on me as I had to drive a fellow Angel Flight pilot to the airport. The car wouldn't start, but I could hear the solenoid throw the gear. I got a small hammer I had in the trunk and whacked the handle on the positive cable to rotate the cable around the side terminal to break the corrosion. BAM! It started right up.

Duh.