Alright I'm trying to remove my starter on my 96 Xj 2.5 liter and I can not get the bolts to budge at all im almost to the point where i have almost stripped the head. Does anyone know what type of bolt it it cause its definitely not a hex head. It looks like a torx bolt. I think I might need a torx socket. I've been using a 9 mm on it and it doesn't seem to want to budge at all. There's two bolts on the bottom that secure it. Someone help me out! Has anyone had the same problem?

 

Sounds like you are trying to remove the starter solenoid bolts, which doesn't need to be done. There is an upper and a lower bolt for the starter, and I think they are bigger than a 9mm. The bolts you need to remove are flat on the top, no way a torx bit would even look like it would fit.

 

I'm pretty sure trying to remove the wrong bolts. Those small bolts hold the starter together. You will take the starter apart and gears and bushings and magnets will come flying out.

Two bolts hold the starter on. If I remember correctly they are either 14 or 15mm but someone correct me. Definitely not 9mm.

 

I appreciate the input but that's not my starter. Ill post pics asap so there's no confusion

 

There definetly not hex head bolts. There a six point bolt kinda looks like a torx bolt and a 9 mm fits on it

 

Muaddib, that's not what the 2.5 starter looks like.
There are two bolts that hold it on. They're vertical, going straight up through the starter into the engine. They take a 14mm. That's what my 2.5 has, a couple little 9mm bolts shouldn't be what holds the starter on. And mine are regular hex head bolts.

 

Almost positive they are torx. They are on a yj wrangler. On my buddies, we rounded them off and had to weld regular hex bolts on top to get them off. Buy the torx sockets.

 

Like this, really?


ETA: 9 mm = E10 socket

There is a chart located here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx

 

Kirknd4spd, I'm willing to bet your starter has been replaced before and someone did away with these mystery bolts. I'm thinking a bolt extractor is my best bet. And my bolts are vertical also going througg the starter.

 

Turbo xj, yeaa I'm almost certain those are it

 

I looked at that link and now I'm almost certain there polydrive bolts. Thanks for the help everyone

 

Oh I just assumed the 4.0 and 2.5 had the same type of starter. That's not a picture of an XJ starter anyways just a picture I found on google to illustrate the location of the two bolts.

 

Alright guys there not torx bolts. Got some external torx sockets and they don't fit... So anyone that has any ides please chime in cause I'm runnin out of ideas besides a bolt extractor an I was save that for my last resort.

Kirknd4spd, what size were your bolts were they 1/4 20 or 5/16 or 3/8

 

A clear picture of the fastener in question would really help.

 

Are they the same type head that is on the bolts that hold the wheel hubs in, or the caliper mount on the knuckle? If it is those inverted torx looking heads what I have found that works best are those new sockets from Kobalt (Lowes) that look like they are made with 12 splines instead of flats inside. They will grip those bolt heads pretty well and not round them off.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_379762-22328...sales_dollar|1

If not those, at least use regular 12 point sockets with those bolt heads to prevent damage to them.