I looks like I need a new starter, I see one bolt and feel the other bolt on the top of the starter. With the car on jump stands, I could not move the bottom bolt at all. I got to believe the will be even harder to do. Any tips for the DYI person?

Tom

I meant to say "I got to believe the top bolt will be even harder to do.

I have to replace my starter soon too. What tool did you use?

I was planning on doing the same thing as you. Drive the car up onto ramps, using a power bar. If it is on very tight, I have a 48" steel pipe, which will slide over the power bar. This pipe increases the leverage greatly. It has come in very useful on 2 previous occassions, that hex nut in the rear axle, and on one HLC. The pipe is available from Home depot for less than $10.

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1989 420 SEL

I think the starter mounting on the 420 engine is the same as on my 560.. If so, you need to attack that top bolt with a *long* extension. I think mine was a 24" or 30". You move further back under the car (can't remember but I think you go behind the front part of the transmission) and thread the socket/extension through onto the bolt.

Hope this helps. It will make much more sense when you're under the car with the long extension. There is almost no way to get that bolt out if you're directly below it (no room to work with a socket wrench!)

Neal

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'83 300SD 335,000km (207k) mi SOLD
'87 560SL 163,000km (101k mi) SOLD
'86 300SDL 356,000km (220k mi) SOLD
'92 500SEL 250,000km (155k mi) SOLD
'90 300SL 140,000km (87k mi) SOLD
'01 S430 260,000km (161k mi) SOLD
'03 SL500 167,000km (104k mi) SOLD
'07 S550 4MATIC 235,000km (146k mi) SOLD
'07 GL320 CDI 4MATIC 348,000km (215k mi)
'13 GL350 BlueTec 4MATIC 170,000km (105k mi)
'14 SL550 72,000km (43k mi)