Pretty sure my starter is bad. Bats are charged. It was barely turning over for a little while, now it wont turn over at all. I turned the ignition on then took a screwdriver to the posts on the starter solenoid. Nothing, just a bunch of sparks. I guess there are just three bolts for the starter. Got the bottom two off , but this top one is a pain. Can't really get anything to it. Please tell me I don't have to remove the oil pan...

 

You don't have to take the oil pan off.
I've done it more times than I care to count. The only way I've found to do it is use a combination wrench. I can't remember if I used the closed end or the open. Either way it was SLOW going and very very small movements. I wanna say I layed down with my hand and wrench over the frame rail and used the open end. Because of how little you can move it you'll probably have to flip the wrench each time to get a different bite on the bolt.(That is if you can't use the closed end. I had several bolts lately that gave me trouble and I can't remember exactly how I tackled that one but it can be done.)
I also have an extra starter that works too if youre interested...

 

you can do it with a socket and an extension.

I canot remember if i used a swivle or not.

 

I cut a wrench in half for the top bolt.

 

You can reach the top bolt with a combination of wobble extensions and a ratchet from in front in front of the engine cross member. It may help to remove the passenger side tire and work through the wheel well too.......hmmmm, crap maybe I'm thinking of the 5.4/4.6 engine.

 

If you can get the right length of extension you can get it from between the starter and the engine crossmember, but you will have to have just the right combination of extensions. I've changed at least ten starters on these trucks, and yes, that top bolt is a pain!!!! but it is not as bad as the old idi 7.3!!!! don't ask me how I know

Good Luck!

 

wow sounds like this has been a pain for a lot of people. It seems like the germans are good at designing stuff to work well, but working on it is a different story. Man, its a hot day to go crawling up under this truck...