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I have had some weird noise last couple times I've started the Ex (2005 6l) and am thinking the starter is on the way out. Didn't see anything in the tech folder on replacing the starter. Can you let me know how difficult it is to change and if there is a preferred replacement. Thanks
Depends on mechanical ability. For me it's now a 15 minute changeout.
Remove negative terminals from both batteries.
Remove cover on starter terminals.
10mm socket to remove starter engagement lug and nut.
15mm socket to remove main starter cable and nut.
13mm socket to remove two viewable bolts.
13mm cocker with 6" extension to remove hidden bolt behind starter.
That bolt is located between the starter body and solenoid and you just have to hunt for it. I do all of this laying under the truck, not through the wheelwell as others do.
When it goes back in I put a small o-ring over the top hidden bolt about 1/4" from the end so it stays in place when I put up the starter. It small enough to if into the chamfer of the starter's hole with interfering with the starter fitting to the bellhousing. You can do the same with electrical tape, you just need to make the width 1/8" and wrapped only enough to just fit in the hole and excessively large.
Just reverse the above on install. If you have it, put some light duty Loctite on the lower bolt as that has a tendency to become loose and fall out.
It takes more time to crawl in and out from under the truck than it takes to actually remove the starter, keep your sockets within reach as sometimes the nut on the positive pole is not stock if the starter has been replaced previously.
When putting it back together, I put the socket and extension on the bolt, through the starter hole, and then ziptie the extension to the starter body. That way your tool is already on the bolt ready to go and bolt is held in place; no hunting and swearing.
For starters I just get mine from the local red, blue, or green parts store. They all offer some kind of lifetime unit at a pretty low price. Over 20 years of working on my own stuff I've never found parts store starters to be problematic, but if one ever did fail they're easy enough to pull and exchange for a new one.
My 6.0 starter was about 100 bucks and they will give me back about 10 bucks when i take in the old one from advanced using trt30 as a coupon code. I just bought one last week. It spins just like the 6.4 starters do in the videos
