I'm about to replace the starter on my 96 XJ. Any guidance or posts you can point me to are appreciated.

Disconnect battery negative before you begin. Clean all terminations well and apply dielectric grease before connecting to new starter. Pretty straightforward removal and replacement otherwise...

You have 2 bolts that hold it on top and bottom then it will come right out

Took me about a half hour start to finish today. Just disconnect the battery lol

have it up on jack stands - just waiting for the water/snow to dry so I don't get soaked. starter looks kind of tough to reach - and the jack stands have me paranoid that I'm going to get smashed, but I'll dive in in about an hour...

Got ramps? That's what I used lol.

Disconnect the battery

Climb under and locate the starter and its two mounting bolts

Remove and label the different connections

Remove the mounting bolts

Pull out (snicker) and put in (snicker again) the new starter

Replace the mounting bolts. I forget the exact torque specs. Don't over-tighten.

Reconnect all the little connections with di-electric grease

Clean the battery terminals and posts

Reconnect the battery with di-electric grease

Start her up, if she doesn't crank, check your connections; if she cranks, enjoy a beer

got the starter out - accidentally took a transmission housing bolt out instead of the correct back side bolt. there are only two wires going to the assembly; i think difficult to mess that up. will get new starter in tomorrow...might change out battery cables too, any thoughts,,,,?

What size is that top bolt? I have tried everything and I can't get it out.

19/32 for the top

Don't mean to hi jack but I just replaced the starter in my 98 and when I go to turn it on, it just makes a loud grinding/clanging sound, and does not start. As if the starter gears are not making good connection with the flywheel.

Any info/help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Lindsey

sounds like a bad battery or dead battery

It is a brand new battery (red top optima, if it matters), brand new alternator, and now brand new starter.

Thanks for the input/thought though.

-Lindsey

Sounds like the wrong starter, a noise like that is a mechanical issue. Either wrong starter, or the gear is not extending.

It took me all of 20 minutes today to swap my starter out.

Yeah it didn't take me but a minute or two. However long it take to unscrew the four (two on the solenoid) bolts then put them back in on the new one. Just will not start. Making that horrible sound. I guess I will take it off and take it back to the parts store to see if they will give me a new one.

Thanks,
Lindsey

X2. Just did my 90 last night, and no issues. I also have a brand new Redtop and Alt.