How-to Envoy 5.3 starter replacement

AWD V8

Original poster
Member
Jan 12, 2015
463
This is on my 2003 Envoy 5.3

I don't know what years, or if Trailblazer is the same.

Assuming you have your truck safely up on stands or a lift. Be sure to apply the parking brake and block the wheels.

1) First off remove a battery cable.
2) Remove the brace just behind the steering rack, bolts underneath and inside the dark awkward area.
Slide the brace to the right and then pull the left side out. You may have to use a large screwdriver to pop it out.


3) There is your starter, remove the 2 - 13mm head bolts holding it up.


A universal or swivel socket is needed.


4) Now lift the starter up and push it over to the right and let it rest on the cooler lines.


5) Release the plastic clip holding the harness and lift the cooler lines up out of the bracket.


6) Release the cooler line support just below the rad so that you can move the cooler lines to the side making it easier to pass the starter by.
You don't have to remove the whole thing, just lift the plastic pin up.
 
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AWD V8

Original poster
Member
Jan 12, 2015
463
7) I found it best to release the battery cable where it wraps around the front of the engine. You won't get enough slack to get the starter out far enough to undo the connections. 3 large clips hold the battery cable, just gently pull the end of the clip down and it will pop off.


9) Release the smaller harness also.


10) Now grab the starter and lift it up and to the left. Drop it down as you push the cooler lines to the right. It will take some pressure but you won't hurt anything.
Now you will find that the starter will not pass through! While it is this far, reach up with your left and and wiggle the heat shield up and off.


11) I used my floor jack and lifted the engine a wee bit. It only needed to go up a 1/4"
Use a wooden block to protect the oil pan.


Be sure your jack won't shoot out under the load. Be sure you are NOT lifting the truck!! It may fall of your stands if you lift too much!!


12) Almost out.


13) Using short wrenches you can remove the small solenoid wire (8mm) and the battery cable (13mm).


And there it is :smile:
 
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AWD V8

Original poster
Member
Jan 12, 2015
463
Before you install the new starter test fit the heat shield on the new starter. I found out that the heat shield would not fit well and clear the wires on the new starter, AFTER it was in. I managed to bend it up in the vise a bit and and refit it. Best to check this before you have the starter in! Once you are sure it fits weel, remove it as you can't install the starter with the shield on.

14) The wires are right there, hold the starter up with your left hand and attach the smaller solenoid wire first as it is the most difficult.


15) Be sure that the tang on the battery cable goes into the notch on the solenoid. Snug but don't over do it or you could break the bakelite casing.


16) Wires connected, push it in now.


You will have to lift the engine to clear the oil pan.


17) Rest the starter on the cooler lines.


18) Remove the plastic harness clip from the bracket, it gives you more room to get the bolt in.


19) Install the bracket upside at first, it will give you more room for your hand and fingers.


After the bolt is started, rotate it, top towards you to set it upright, now tighten the bolt.
 
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AWD V8

Original poster
Member
Jan 12, 2015
463
20) now you can install the heat shield. You will have to fiddle with it as you can't really see what you are doing. You will have to clip it on, then feel around to make sure it's on properly. Check that the cutout is placed over the solenoid nut on the starter case.




You should be able to see that the shiled fits and does not touch the wires.


21) Before you bolt up the starter you need to secure the harness with the plastic clip, open side down so that you can release it easy next time you replace your starter HA HA HA



21) Move the starter from the cooler lines and poke the snout into the hole in the bell housing, wiggle it into place so that it sits squarely against the block.
Now slip a bolt into the starter housing with a socket and extension and lift the starter up with your left hand. Be sure when you start the bolt that it goes in easy! You are threading it into aluminum so if it starts to go tight or crooked stop now and restart the bolt. Once you have the first one threaded in most of the way, get the second one in and tighten them up.

22) Now, when I went to install this brace it did not go in. I noticed that the passenger side of the other braces on the truck had been bent from contacting something and I could not rotate the brace once I had it in place. Not possible to reform the bent bracing I trimmed off some metal from the brace and it was enough to allow me to rotate the brace.




You are now done and can reconnect your battery.

These are the tools I used to work on the connections on the starter solenoid. The ratchets are Napa friction ratchets and work very smoothly in tight areas.


Any suggestions or comments are welcome.
 

Bow_Tied

Member
Dec 21, 2014
453
London, ON
Nice write-up. I have never had the pleasure to work on a starter that complicated to remove, wow.
 

AWD V8

Original poster
Member
Jan 12, 2015
463
This job is listed as 4.0 hours. I did it in just under 2 hours. With a lift, air tools and 45 years wrenching, not saying I'm a super mechanic, just as a reference.
 
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linneje

Member
Apr 26, 2012
404
I had mine replaced at CT, charged me 1.5 h labor, so I am not sure why it is listed at 4 hours. Based on your write up, you did well to do it under 2 hours. Not an easy job.
 

Bow_Tied

Member
Dec 21, 2014
453
London, ON
Is it just me or are all the pics gone?
 

Mooseman

Moderator
Dec 4, 2011
25,262
Ottawa, ON
That's why I hate Photobucket. Best thing is to upload direct to the forum.
 
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Dennis Pruett

Member
Sep 14, 2016
1
Odon, Indiana
Great write-up! Helped a lot laying under my Envoy in the yard. What a pain to get too! Have it out waiting for the new starter.... Late of course. Sure miss the days when this was less than a 30 minute job even for a parts changer like me.
Oh well, once it's in and done I'll be glad to have that labor money in my pocket!
Thanks again for the write up, it really helps guys like me to get an idea before I jump on.
 

aaserv

Member
Dec 1, 2019
408
N of Baton Rouge, La.
Anybody know where I can get a pic of this starter AND the heat shield. Think mine is missing the heat shield....
 

Mooseman

Moderator
Dec 4, 2011
25,262
Ottawa, ON
There's a heat shield? I replaced mine last year and it didn't have a heat shield. I might put on some heat shield tape when I replace the tranny lines, which were damaged and leaking after the starter swap.
 

aaserv

Member
Dec 1, 2019
408
N of Baton Rouge, La.

Martyelzz4

Member
Jan 3, 2013
67
Sprague, WA
This is on my 2003 Envoy 5.3

I don't know what years, or if Trailblazer is the same.

Assuming you have your truck safely up on stands or a lift. Be sure to apply the parking brake and block the wheels.

1) First off remove a battery cable.
2) Remove the brace just behind the steering rack, bolts underneath and inside the dark awkward area.
Slide the brace to the right and then pull the left side out. You may have to use a large screwdriver to pop it out.


3) There is your starter, remove the 2 - 13mm head bolts holding it up.


A universal or swivel socket is needed.


4) Now lift the starter up and push it over to the right and let it rest on the cooler lines.


5) Release the plastic clip holding the harness and lift the cooler lines up out of the bracket.


6) Release the cooler line support just below the rad so that you can move the cooler lines to the side making it easier to pass the starter by.
You don't have to remove the whole thing, just lift the plastic pin up.
Here are some pictures I took while replacing the starter on my 08 Saab 9-7x. I added a photo of a cord I used to pull the transmission lines over..
 

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