I am going to change the starter on our 95 Sportage this weekend. The one we have now has been acting up, every so often it will just like free spin and you have to turn the key off and try it again and it will work the next time.

I got a good used starter that I'll put in. I was wondering if anyone has done this and how much of a job it is?????

Thanks in advance!!

<small>[ March 27, 2003, 08:45 PM: Message edited by: Explorerguy ]</small>

If you want the section of the shop manual dealing with the starter send me an e-mail at mjats@juno.com and I'll forward you the stuff.

Before you go in and put a new starter, check the following: Is the starter missing any teeth or are any teeth damaged, if they are NOT, you might have a bad flywheel. If this is the case, a new starter will not fix your problem, but a new flywheel will. Also, turn the engine slowly and check the flywheel through the starter hole. Make sure it has all of its teeth and that none are damaged. Do take the starter in for a check up at a shop or if you are in the US, some auto parts check them for free. Changing it should not be too much of a problem because of its location, but first make sure it is not the flywheel.

I sent you the file. One thing I forgot to mention. The starters are DIFFERENT depending on whether you have a stick shift or automatic. The starter for the stick is direct drive. The starter for the auto is a gear reduction type.

Mine is a automatic tranny.

I hope it isn't the flywheel because that sounds like a lot more work.

Axe Man, thanks for the email I am downloading it here at work.

AN UPDATE ON THE STARTER!!!

I just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. I called my local shop that does my work when I can't and they said hours for labor was 1.3 hours.
My dad came over and helped me and getting the first part done wasn't all that bad, but that last bolt in the back is a pain in the butt!!!
It took us longer then 1.3 hours which I knew it would but we ended up taking the front driveshaft off which made a big difference. I would recommend that to anyone else that is going to give it a try.

I got a starter off a newer Sportage which is different then the one I had but they said (salvage Yard) it would work. We think it might be better then the one we took out because it has more teeth and it is made a little better.
So far everything is working fine on it so we will see after driving it a few days.

I really wanted to quit a couple of times, but my dad wouldn't let me. That back bolt was a pain and if you aren't very good with tools I would say don't try this one on your own.

I hope this might help the next person that tries it themselves.