I have a 89 240 and one of the bolts that goes to the bell housing- behind the starter in a terrible location- it is seemingly impossible to remove. I have tried every tool I have and even went out and spent $50 today on tools to try to get to the bolt (extensions, a different ratchet, breaker bar etc). My Haynes manual is worthless- it said to remove the bolts, thanks for nothing Haynes. I have considered cutting a hole into the floor board right above the bolt to get to it, but that would be nuts. Please help.

 

sounds strange to me, have you tried to do it from atop? I mean getting at it from engine bay. what's in the way?

 

Alot of times they are a big PITA.
I use a swivel and the shortest socket I have.
I usually end up getting pinned between the tranny and the firewall.
But once it is loose the starter will slide back.

 

I was just looking on the Sears website and spotted a 19 mm swivel impact socket. Would that do the trick? I would hate to spend $27 on a socket and it doesn't help me. And since it's an impact socket could I use an impact wrench to blast the bolt off? I can actually get a socket on it now from underneath with a universal joint and all my extensions combined to make one long extension. The problem is I can not possibly budge the bolt. These starter bolts are extremely tight! That is why I was thinking of using an impact wrench.

 

Most of the time if it is that tight the impact would break it loose.
The long extensions lose alot of torque between the gun and the socket.
If you have some room to move stick a long pipe on the end of your ratchet and use it for leverage.

 

I finally got the starter off! I used an extremely long extension made up of many extensions, a universal joint at the end where the 19 mm socket goes, and a breaker bar. It took quite a bit of muscle to break it loose. I installed the new starter and the car won't start! It is doing the same thing as before. I here some clicking sounds and other weird sounds and even some sounds coming from below the car maybe where the starter is. I heard these same sounds with the old and new starter, and the emergency lights start blinking each time I try to start it. What can this be? I hate that I just wasted my time changing the starter for nothing. Well, at least I know how to change it now. Any ideas what my problem is now? Hopefully I can clean this new starter up and Autozone will take it back. $120 down the drain does not sit well with me.

 

Check with a test light and make sure you are getting power to the small wire on the starter when the key is turned to the crank position.

 

Hi tech, I solved the problem. I replaced the battery cable going to the starter and the connectors for the other two wires connected to the positive terminal. All three of those looked in bad condition. So, one of those three things was the culprit not sure which one since I did all three at once, just glad it works now. I have developed a new problem now and I will start a new thread regarding that.