Where is my starter located???

[dufflespank]

I know this is a total newb question, but where is my starter located? I want to hook up a remote starter switch so that I can turn the engine over while watching the torque converter and hopefully land on the drain plug. Any help?

[Cervan]

wait wait.. your changing your transmission oil, yet you dont know where the starter is... lol. The starters is on the right of the engine, (looking from the rear of the engine from the flywheel, back) its a small black cylindrical peice of metal with three bolts that hold it in place. in order to remote start it, you connect a lead to the POSITIVE and the SMALL FLATHEAD SCREW.

[dufflespank]

Is it accessible from the top or bottom or both?

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by dufflespank

I want to hook up a remote starter switch so that I can turn the engine over while watching the torque converter and hopefully land on the drain plug.

That's way too much trouble. You can bump the engine for a long time before the plug stops in the right place. Just turn the crankshaft (in the normal direction of rotation) with a ratchet wrench on the balancer bolt. Much faster. Use a mirror if you are working solo. You can also turn the flywheel with a large screwdriver.

[Sbean]

Be sure to take the socket wrench off the crank shaft bolt before starting the engine...

[dufflespank]

So, is the bolt accessible from the top, or do I have to get under the car?

[Sbean]

Approach from above the engine. Stand in front of car, hood open. Look down behind the radiator. Below the fan there are some pulleys attached to the crankshaft. The bolt that holds the pulleys to the shaft is the one you want to turn with a socket wrench, clockwise only. That's the direction the fan turns to draw air through the radiator onto the engine.
Do you have a method for refilling the torque converter? When I replaced my transmission and TC, I filled the TC before installing it. Steve

[dufflespank]

Won't the TC just fill through the transmission fill/dipstick tube? This is a 603 by the way.

[bgkast]

Add a few qts of ATF down the tube and crank to fill the torque converter. IMHO it is easiest to access the crank bolt from the bottom.

[Sbean]

Right, you have to be down there sooner or later anyway to access the TC. Steve

[dufflespank]

Do I have to remove anything to access the bolt? If so, what needs to come out?

[Sbean]

No. There is also an alternative. Some people use the power steering pump pulley bolt, although some think using it may make it so tight that it will be hard to remove in the future. Steve

[dufflespank]

So I'm giving this another shot, except I am having a lot of trouble accessing the crank bolt on my 603. It seems that the only way to get to it would be to remove the shroud and fan. Also, I considered using the power steering pulley, except there are three or four bolts on the front of the pulley, so I'm not sure what everybody means when they say use "the" PS bolt. Any suggestions? I really want to get this done TODAY.