rse

Hi all,
I've got an 86.5 and my starter motor has been getting stuck engaged for several seconds (15-20secs) whenever I start it after sitting for a few days. I read about cleaning the Solenoid on several threads.
I unbolted 2 allen wrench bolts and have the starter motor loose but I cannot remove it from the car. I'm stuck with it between the flywheel housing and the "stabilizer"? bar - a black tube that runs across between the front wheels.
Is there a way to get it out ? If the bar needs to be loosened, is that a part under some kind of dangerous load? OR can I just undo the Solenoid assembly?
I managed to change the timing belt once (it took me several months) but that is the extent of my mechanical know-how.
I appreciate any help and guidance you can give me. Thanks for your time.
Ron

Speedtoys

Sway bar can be removed from it's mounts without any drama and it will swing down/free.

rse

ok I'll go at it, thanks.

StratfordShark

Yup just loosen the sway bar connections to drop links (I think 19mm socket) and remove the bolts where it mounts to frame of car (17mm socket). Will swing down easily and give you all the room you need.

Well done on unbolting the motor. One of the Allen bolts requires some ingenuity to remove, as body of motor itself limits access.

rse

Yea, I couldn't get an Allen socket in there, but I found a plain old Allen key that fit and a pipe to get the force needed. Thanks for the sway bar info.

Wisconsin Joe

Dwayne's writeup on the Motor Mounts covers taking off the sway bar. Pics and everything.

It's pretty simple.

And yeah, if you got the stupid top bolt out on the starter, the sway bar is a piece of cake.

Good of you to make sure there aren't any "surprises" to taking it off though.

rse

Thanks for the Dwayne ref

Randy V

The starter motor can be wiggled out without loosening/removing the front sway bar.

rse

I was having a hard time wiggling it out - got it stuck for a while. I was able to remove it by undoing just the driver side of the sway bar.