Looks like I'll be replacing my starter, and I've never done one before. I've done other work on my Jeep, but this is a first for me. I'm very much an amateur mechanic. Are there any tips that I need to know before I get underneath my Jeep and do this? My Jeep is a '93 Cherokee Sport 4 x 4 with the 4.0 in-line 6 cyl engine. Any and all advice is certainly appreciated, thank you!

 

It's pretty straight forward. Start by disconnecting the negative battery cable, get under jeep, remove the wire connections on starter (remember on which terminal they go, so you put them back correctly, 3 in total if I recall correctly), remove the two bolts holding the starter (one on front, one on back), wiggle starter out.
Clean the wire connections before installing the new one, and installation is the above in reverse order.
Thats pretty much it.

 

Thank you Roler for your advice. I wasn't sure about the battery (would have done it to be safe anyway) but now I know for sure. And thank you for letting me know about not mixing up the wires. I'll be sure not to do that. Thanks a lot for your help!

 

The first time I replaced a starter I didn't realize they were heavy, not incredibly heavy but for its size it was heavier then I had expected. I nearly knocked my self in the face with it, so there is that. Otherwise yeah it's pretty straight forward.

 

Battery gasses have a nasty habit of helping a thin, hard crust form on the bat post's and clamps. They can look pretty good, but that micro-thin layer is a surprisingly good insulator. SHINNY! Lead is what you want. I use a pocket knife, (gently), for the insides of the clamps. For the posts I might use one of those post cleaner wire brushes, but still scrape it with a blade. If you have a condition where you have power, (dash lights ect.), then when you hit it power goes out altogether, that's a common result of a layer of oxidization there. Btw, a half *** connection could be expected to get hot during cranking, or while it's trying. Cleaning those is something to do now and then anyway, so it you are having starting problems, you might want to make sure you have bare lead on lead. Might save you some grief!

 

While you're in there, might as well clean ALL your grounds (block to firewall, ground at dipstick, grounds on coil, etc). Sand paper until shiny! And battery terminals as Mr. Flint explained

 

If you've got an oil leak, go ahead and take it to the car wash and try to get all the oil off around it, just dont spray on anything important looking. Unless of course its completely out and it will no longer move.