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2003 Altima Starter Motor Replacement 

A customer car that would click once the key was turned but would not crank. Thought it could be the battery but boosting it directly from another car with higher cranking amps wouldn't make a difference. Starter motor it was.

April 2015

Here is the Altima.

This is a very DIY task. The starter is located just below the air intake in the top left corner of the picture.

This operation is not really needed but the extra view and space you will get will be quite helpfult. 4 3/16 allen key sockets hold down the pastic aesthetics cover.

You need to remove the air intake to gain access. Start by disconnecting the mass airflow sensor on the air cleaner.

Disconnect the crank case ventilation hose using a nose plier.

Release the air cleaner/air filter housing by unlatching the two clips.

Not sure what the stock setup is but in this car, had to release the steel belt/hose clamp on the throttle body using a flat head.

And then it is off.

Before going any further; make sure one of the two battery terminals are disconnected. The starter has exposed terminals of different polarity and you don't want your tools to establish a short circuit.

Release the transmission cable off its clip on bracket

Next, need to release two electric connections off the starter motor.

Press the release tab and pull off the plastic plug.

12 mm nut for the high amp live crank wire.

There are two bolts holding the starter motor onto the block. The one above is a 17 mm socket.

Tool setup - 17 mm socket with a 4 inch extension on a hand ratchet. Could use an air ratchet if you like.

My bolt was super tight, I don't think an air ratchet would have worked. Could use an impact if you like.

Long 17 mm here

The other bolt is a 14 mm bolt head.

And located just below the armature. You won't be able to see it but rather feel it and locate the bolt head.

Here is the starter motor out. Need to transfer the transmission cable bracket to the new one. Two 10 mm bolts here.

Two 10 mm bolts here.

And onto the new one. 10 mm bolts are really soft so don't over hand torque.

Locate the new starter on the block by catching the threads with the two bolts.

Torque generously until you feel the stretch. The upper bolt is long and taps into aluminum so it  pulls easily whens tightened.

Slide the plastic connector back on until it clips.

Fasten the starter wire.

The new starter had a 13 mm nut which is uncommon for Japanese cars.

Clamp the transmission shifter cable back on.

Battery 10 mm.

Air filter back on the way it was taken off. Remember the flat head hose clamp on the throttle body.

And clip back the mass airflow sensor.

Plastic aesthetics cover back on and good to go.