P80 Step by Step - Replacing the starter motor 1998 S70 8251551

[E Showell]

I did the starter replacement on my V70 about a year ago around 200K miles +/-. 3 very lesiurely hours for install and replace both, but I left the fan in place and removed the battery tray. With the fan in place the space is really very, very tight and I could see how folks would think the job impossible w/o removing the fan, but I'm here to tell you it can be done (but probably not if you have very large hands). My reasons for not removing the fan really amounted to no confidence that I'd correctly reconnect everything I disassembled and a real reluctance to mess with vacuum lines of any kind.

[bronxnativ]

I need to set up a "regional help system" here at MVS to link those in the same area who need help with their Volvos, with those who are able to help (for free, or very low pay).

You know I'm in!

[januwan]

I need to set up a "regional help system" here at MVS to link those in the same area who need help with their Volvos, with those who are able to help (for free, or very low pay).[/quote]


This site is getting better every day

[WilmingtonGreg]

This looks extremely helpful but I have one important question, will my 1993 model 850 GLT be the same when I try to change out the starter?

I am a novice mechanic so the step-by-step instructions with photos are amazing!

Thanks very much.
-Greg

[ciotog27]

Great tutorial, I have never changed a starter or ever worked on a Volvo before so this was a tremendous help. A friend was visiting last week and she knew the starter was going bad, so of course when she is about to leave it would not start. She has a 1999 S70 with over 250,000 miles. She had gotten a price for a new starter for over $200 but I was able to find a local junk dealer that had a starter for $50 with a 90 day warranty.

I do not work on cars much (ok almost never) but my rule is, the fewer parts you take off, means the few problems you will run into and the fewer parts you have to remember how to put back. So with that in mind I read through the tutorial several times running back and forth between kitchen and carport while working on this project. I removed the battery and tray without problem. I started working on the right side bolts first because they were easy to see I was able to get them off fairly quickly and easily. As I was trying to reach the left bolt on the motor bracket I realized the starter was already loose. I had to assume someone had changed the starter before but never put the bracket or bolt back on.

I had not removed the bolt holding the 2 wires to the solenoid but as I began remove that bolt the plastic housing of the solenoid broke away. Not good. I took off the green wire and was able to squeeze the starter under the air intake piping and out where the battery was located. I then left with these 2 wires with a nut and part of the old solenoid attached. For next 3 hours I tried everything to get that nut off. Since part of the plastic was still attached I had to chip and brake that away so I could expose the solenoid bolt underneath. I used every ounce of energy I had to get that nut off but it would not budge at all. I ended up holding the solenoid bolt with pliers while I used an old hack saw to slowly cut the bolt end off. I was then able to slide the bolt through the wires. It was now 2:30am and 28 degrees.

The "new" starter did not come with the solenoid nut so I still had to get the old nut off the remaining part of the bolt. I do not have a vise so the next morning I took it to a shop and had them take it off. They said it had been threaded wrong and been sealed with thread lock.

Had I not had the problem with the solenoid nut I would have had this project done in 2 hours thanks to this tutorial and all the great comments. So those of you that think this project is too difficult, fear not, I did not even know what a starter looked like before I started, I had to borrow all the tools (except the hack saw) and I was working outside at night in freezing temperatures. If I can do this anyone can.

[ciotog27]

IMAG2356.jpg (677.86 KiB) Viewed 3498 times

When I was removing the battery tray on my friends Volvo S70 this part fell off and onto the ground under the car. I could not figure out where it went too. Does anyone have a clue what this is. I did not tell her this part was left over.

[ciotog27]

For future reference, is it the "group consensus" that the Fan Shroud needs to come out?

No I would say for the 99 S70 it is not necessary at all.

[bronxnativ]

IMAG2356.jpg

When I was removing the battery tray on my friends Volvo S70 this part fell off and onto the ground under the car. I could not figure out where it went too. Does anyone have a clue what this is. I did not tell her this part was left over.

That holds your battery down to the tray. It's generally attached to the lower left corner (looking directly at your battery from above) of the battery tray.

[stone36]

Hi All, getting a little paranoid and thinking I missed something. In the below pictures, are the connections right?

starter.JPG (299.62 KiB) Viewed 4390 times

I know the slide on (green) wire is wrong, I already moved it to the bottom, but there are the two THICK wires that I know mount to the long post, but what about the third (thinner yellowish) wire?

From the original post:
"12. Place the new motor in the same orientation, first lining up the dowel with the correct hole, then hand thread all 3 bolts in place as far as you can. Tighten the bolts with the socket driver. Reconnect the wire to the plug below the bracket bolt, and the one that connects to the solenoid. Remove the nut on the solenoid, put the 2 wires that end in washer-like connections onto the connector bolt on the solenoid and refasten the nut. Your starter is replaced!"

Don't know if the yellow is "the wire to the plug below the bracket bolt"
Thanks

[rbtrary]

I have the same question please.

I replaced my starter (manual 850) and found three wires on the starter stud. Two red and one yellow. Plus the green/red ignition wire spade connector. Maybe a previous owner miss-wired it? Any one know what that third wire is and where its supposed to go?