Hello all,

I am new to the forum and hope that somebody could help me out. I believe that my starter is toast. With that being said, i need to locate and replace the starter. Typically there are enough youtube videos out there to paint a clear picture of the exact process, problem is i cant find any videos on replacement. Can somebody shed a little light on the process. Is it a quick fix, or more of a headache. I have experience working on cars, but by no means am i a "mechanic" simple things like replacing and alternator, spark plugs, oil change and such.

I have tested the lights and everytime i turn the key all i hear is a clicking sound but full power to the car. My next test is the hammer test, i just need to locate the starter.

any info would be helpful, much appreciated.

Thank you!

 

What engine do you have?

 

it is the 2.0

 

Your gonna need a rod probably about one foot long to hit the starter with. Take the engine cover off first and look down around the coolant hoses right between the engine and transmission.

 

Going to attack this project this weekend. whats the best way to approach it? from underneath? it is not easy to get to from the top.

 

Here are the instructions from ford, I would assume it needs to come out from the bottom based on them but I have not replaced a starter on this engine so I cannot say from experience.
Disconnect the battery when you do this, bungee jump the cable away from the battery so it doesnt happen to touch while your removing the starter.
THE TWO NUTS FOR THE STARTER WIRES ARE VERY LOW TORQUE, you can break the studs super super super easily, I use a 3 inch long ratchet to get minimum leverage and I stop when my arm muscles tighten to apply more force. I probably think about it differently when I do it from experience but I am very aware of my arm muscles feeling loose like they are just unscrewing something by hand.Removal

WARNING: Always disconnect the battery ground cable at the battery before disconnecting the starter motor battery terminal lead. If a tool is shorted at the starter motor battery terminal, the tool can quickly heat enough to cause a skin burn. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

NOTE: Removal steps in this procedure may contain installation details.

1. Disconnect the battery.
   Refer to: Battery Disconnect and Connect (414-01 Battery, Mounting and Cables, General Procedures).

1. If equipped.
   Remove the underbody shield retainers and then remove the underbody shield

1.  
   1. Remove the CAC nuts.
      Torque: 97 lb.in (11 Nm)
   1. Loosen the clamps and then remove the CAC intake pipe.
      Torque: 44 lb.in (5 Nm)

1.  
   1. Detach the wiring harness retainers and position the wiring harness aside.
   1. Detach the coolant hose retainer from the starter motor bracket.
   1. Remove the starter motor bracket nuts and then remove the starter motor bracket.
      Torque: 159 lb.in (18 Nm)

1. Remove the starter motor studbolts and then position the starter motor to disconnect starter motor the wiring.
   Torque: 26 lb.ft (35 Nm)

1.  
   1. Remove the starter motor battery positive cable retaining nut and then disconnect the battery positive cable at the starter motor.
      Torque: 106 lb.in (12 Nm)
   1. Remove the starter motor control wire nut and then disconnect the starter motor control wire at the starter motor.
      Torque: 53 lb.in (6 Nm)

1. Inspect the starter motor drive gear and the flexplate or flywheel ring gear.
   Refer to: Starter Motor Drive Gear and Flywheel Ring Gear Inspection (303-06B Starting System - 2.0L EcoBoost (177kW/240PS) – MI4, General Procedures).

Installation

1. To install, reverse the removal procedure.

 

Thanks for that Scott.

So long story short, I finally got the starter and they had send me the wrong one. Come to find out its a 1.6 and not a 2.0.

The car has been sitting for 3 weeks now. I had charged the battery all day and reconnected it. I decided to turn the key over just to see what happened and it started right up. I let it run and took it for a ride. When i got home i turned it off and then tried to turn it back on and it was dead again. I went in for the evening and decided to try it again this morning before i left for work and it started right up again. Now my mechanic friend is not so sure its the starter. Does anyone have any input on what it could possibly be?

 

Do what was the original problem?
Would not start randomly, Would not start after sitting for over a few days, Would make clicking noise but not turn over, Would not make any noise at all.

What does the vehicle do when you try to start it but it does not start, what noise does it make, what happens to the radio and instrument cluster.

 

Original problem: Drove the car on a Thursday to and from work, no issues. Friday morning ready to leave work, Turned the key over and all lights, radio, dash seemed to be working fine, but car would not start, it just made a clicking noise and stopped. once key was taken out the lights stayed on in the car, so the battery died. (my mistake, testing the lights and never shut them off, was in a rush to get to work)

I checked all fuse, battery terminal and such. Got a starter for a 2.0 and needed one for a 1.6......

After charging the battery for a full day yesterday, i returned from work and connected the battery back to the car. Turned the key over and the car starter right up. Took it for a drive and once i returned home i turned it off and attempted to turn it back on and it just clicked. Gave up for the night. Tried again this morning for fun before i left for work and it started back up again. its throwing me for a loop.

 

Usually I think this is useless advice that people throw out cause it makes them sound smart and its free so people like that but in this case.
Check that your battery and starter terminals are clean and tight, but not to tight or youll break the starter studs.

Did you happen to notice how the wire from the starter solenoid to the starter motor looked?
I only say this cause the last two times it sounds like the it starts fine when its cold but after it gets hot it doesnt work leading me to think maybe there is a resistance issue.

Of course maybe the start is still barely hanging on and works about half the time.
If you can get it to not start consistently you should watch the battery voltage before and while starting the car, should drop from 12.Xish volts to around 9-10V depending on age of battery.
The best way I know to check if the starter is bad is once again it not starting consistently take a hammer and tap (but do not beat on) the solenoid portion of the starter, if it starts after that then replace the starter.