How to Replace the Starter Motor on a 2013-2019 Ford Escape (Trim: SE)

Step-by-step DIY guide with tools, parts, torque specs, safety tips, and cost savings for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

🔧 Escape - Starter Motor Replacement

Replacing the starter motor on your Escape means removing the old cranking motor and installing a new one at the engine/transmission area. The starter has a high-current battery cable attached, so the battery must be disconnected before any work begins.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable first. The starter power cable is always hot when the battery is connected.
• ⚠️ Never work under your Escape with only a floor jack holding it up. Always use jack stands.
• ⚠️ Let the engine and exhaust cool before reaching near the starter area.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses because dirt and debris can fall while working underneath.
• ⚠️ The starter solenoid is the smaller cylinder on the starter; it controls power going into the starter motor.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 8mm socket
• 10mm socket
• 10mm wrench
• 13mm socket
• 15mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive 6-inch extension
• Torque wrench 5-80 ft-lb range
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Trim clip removal tool
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Work gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Starter motor assembly - Qty: 1
• Starter mounting bolts - Qty: 2 if damaged or corroded
• Battery terminal protectant - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Escape on level ground.
• Shift to Park and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Open the hood and locate the battery.
• A trim clip removal tool is a small fork-shaped tool used to remove plastic clips without breaking them.
• A torque wrench is a tool that tightens bolts to the correct tightness instead of guessing.
• Take photos before removing wires.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Disconnect the Battery

• Put on safety glasses and work gloves.
• Use a 10mm wrench to loosen the negative battery terminal clamp.
• Remove the negative cable from the battery post.
• Move the cable aside so it cannot touch the battery terminal again.
• Wait 2 minutes before working on the starter wiring.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Front

• Use a floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the front of your Escape.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the front support points.
• Slowly lower the vehicle onto the jack stands.
• Use your hands to gently shake the vehicle to confirm it is stable.

Step 3: Remove the Lower Splash Shield

• Use an 8mm socket with a 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the shield fasteners.
• Use a trim clip removal tool to remove any plastic push clips.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver only for gentle clip lifting if needed.
• Set the shield and fasteners aside.

Step 4: Find the Starter

• From underneath, look near the lower front side of the engine where the engine meets the transmission.
• The starter is a short metal cylinder with a smaller cylinder attached to it.
• Use your phone to photograph the large cable and small wire before removing them.
• Photos prevent wire mix-ups.

Step 5: Remove the Starter Wires

• Use a 13mm socket, 3/8-inch drive ratchet, and 3/8-inch drive 6-inch extension to remove the nut from the large battery cable terminal.
• Pull the large cable straight off the starter solenoid stud.
• Use an 8mm socket or 10mm socket to remove the smaller starter control wire nut.
• Move both wires aside so they are not strained or bent.

Step 6: Remove the Starter Mounting Bolts

• Support the starter with one hand before removing the bolts.
• Use a 15mm socket, 3/8-inch drive ratchet, and 3/8-inch drive 6-inch extension to remove the starter mounting bolts.
• Lower the starter out carefully.
• Keep the bolts in order in case they are different lengths.

Step 7: Compare the Old and New Starter

• Place the old starter motor assembly next to the new one.
• Check that the mounting holes, nose shape, electrical terminals, and connector positions match.
• Do not install the new starter if the terminals or mounting ears are different.

Step 8: Install the New Starter

• Lift the new starter into place by hand.
• Start both mounting bolts by hand first. This helps prevent cross-threading, which means the bolt is going in crooked.
• Use a 15mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to snug the mounting bolts.
• Use a torque wrench 5-80 ft-lb range with a 15mm socket to tighten the starter mounting bolts to Torque to 48 Nm (35 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Reconnect the Starter Wires

• Install the large battery cable onto the large starter solenoid stud.
• Use a 13mm socket and torque wrench 5-80 ft-lb range to tighten the large cable nut to Torque to 12 Nm (106 in-lbs).
• Install the small starter control wire onto its terminal.
• Use an 8mm socket or 10mm socket and torque wrench 5-80 ft-lb range to tighten the small terminal nut to Torque to 5 Nm (44 in-lbs).
• Confirm the wires are not touching hot exhaust parts or moving parts.

Step 10: Reinstall the Lower Splash Shield

• Hold the splash shield in place by hand.
• Use a trim clip removal tool to help align any plastic clips.
• Use an 8mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to reinstall the shield fasteners.
• Snug the fasteners only. Plastic fasteners strip easily.

Step 11: Lower the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the front slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum.
• Lower your Escape slowly to the ground.
• Remove the wheel chocks.

Step 12: Reconnect the Battery

• Place the negative battery cable back onto the battery post.
• Use a 10mm wrench to tighten the negative terminal clamp until it no longer moves by hand.
• Apply battery terminal protectant after tightening the clamp.

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✅ After Repair

• Start your Escape. It should crank strongly and start normally.
• If you hear one click but no crank, recheck the large starter cable and battery terminals.
• If nothing happens, recheck the small starter control wire.
• Start the engine 2-3 times to confirm the repair is reliable.
• Reset the clock and any window auto-up/down function if needed after the battery disconnect.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $420-$750 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $160-$330 (parts only)

You Save: $260-$420 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.

🔧 Escape - Starter Motor Replacement

Replacing the starter motor on your Escape involves disconnecting the battery, accessing the starter from underneath, removing the electrical connections, and swapping the starter assembly. The starter carries direct battery power, so battery disconnection is required before touching any starter wiring.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable before starting. The starter power cable can spark badly if it touches metal.
• ⚠️ Support your Escape with jack stands before working underneath. Never trust a floor jack by itself.
• ⚠️ Let the engine and exhaust cool completely before reaching near the starter area.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses because dirt and road debris can fall while you work underneath.
• ⚠️ Keep the key out of the ignition while the starter wiring is disconnected.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 8mm socket
• 10mm socket
• 10mm wrench
• 13mm socket
• 15mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive 6-inch extension
• Torque wrench 5-80 ft-lb range
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Trim clip removal tool
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Work gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Starter motor assembly - Qty: 1
• Starter mounting bolts - Qty: 2 if damaged or corroded
• Battery terminal protectant - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Escape on level ground.
• Shift the transmission to Park and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels to stop the vehicle from rolling.
• Open the hood and locate the battery.
• A trim clip removal tool is a small fork-shaped tool that removes plastic clips without breaking them.
• A torque wrench tightens bolts to the correct tightness instead of guessing.
• Take photos before removing wires.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Disconnect the Battery

• Put on safety glasses and work gloves.
• Use a 10mm wrench to loosen the negative battery terminal clamp.
• Lift the negative cable off the battery post.
• Move the cable aside so it cannot spring back and touch the battery post.
• Wait 2 minutes before touching starter wiring.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Front

• Use a floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the front of your Escape.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the front support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Leave the floor jack lightly touching the lift point as an extra backup, but do not rely on it alone.

Step 3: Remove the Lower Splash Shield

• Use an 8mm socket with a 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the lower shield fasteners.
• Use a trim clip removal tool to remove any plastic push clips.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver only if a clip needs gentle lifting.
• Remove the splash shield and set the fasteners aside together.

Step 4: Locate the Starter

• From underneath, look where the engine meets the transmission housing.
• The starter is a short metal cylinder with a smaller attached cylinder called the solenoid.
• The solenoid is the part that receives the start signal and sends battery power to the starter motor.
• Use your phone to take a clear photo of the wire positions before removing anything.

Step 5: Remove the Starter Electrical Connections

• Use a 13mm socket, 3/8-inch drive ratchet, and 3/8-inch drive 6-inch extension to remove the nut from the large battery cable terminal.
• Pull the large cable straight off the starter solenoid stud.
• Use an 8mm socket or 10mm socket to remove the smaller starter control wire nut.
• Move both wires aside carefully so they do not get bent or stretched.

Step 6: Remove the Starter Mounting Bolts

• Hold the starter with one hand before removing the last bolt. It is heavier than it looks.
• Use a 15mm socket, 3/8-inch drive ratchet, and 3/8-inch drive 6-inch extension to remove the starter mounting bolts.
• Lower the starter out of the vehicle carefully.
• Keep the bolts in order in case one is longer than the other.

Step 7: Compare the Old and New Starter

• Set the old starter motor assembly next to the new one.
• Compare the mounting holes, nose shape, gear position, and electrical terminals.
• Make sure the new starter matches before installing it.
• Wrong starters can still look similar.

Step 8: Install the New Starter

• Lift the new starter into position by hand.
• Start both mounting bolts by hand first. This prevents cross-threading, which means the bolt is going in crooked.
• Use a 15mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to snug the mounting bolts.
• Use a torque wrench 5-80 ft-lb range with a 15mm socket to tighten the starter mounting bolts to Torque to 48 Nm (35 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Reconnect the Starter Wires

• Install the large battery cable onto the large solenoid stud.
• Use a 13mm socket and torque wrench 5-80 ft-lb range to tighten the large cable nut to Torque to 12 Nm (106 in-lbs).
• Install the small starter control wire onto its terminal.
• Use an 8mm socket or 10mm socket and torque wrench 5-80 ft-lb range to tighten the small terminal nut to Torque to 5 Nm (44 in-lbs).
• Check that both wires are secure and routed away from hot or moving parts.

Step 10: Reinstall the Lower Splash Shield

• Position the lower splash shield under the vehicle.
• Use a trim clip removal tool to help guide plastic clips into place if needed.
• Use an 8mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to reinstall the shield fasteners.
• Do not overtighten plastic shield fasteners.

Step 11: Lower the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to raise the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum.
• Lower your Escape slowly to the ground.
• Remove the wheel chocks.

Step 12: Reconnect the Battery

• Place the negative battery cable back onto the battery post.
• Use a 10mm wrench to tighten the negative terminal clamp until it cannot move by hand.
• Apply battery terminal protectant to the terminal after tightening.

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✅ After Repair

• Start your Escape and listen for normal, strong cranking.
• If you hear one click but no crank, recheck the large starter cable and battery terminal connections.
• If nothing happens, recheck the small starter control wire connection.
• Start the engine 2-3 times to confirm consistent operation.
• Reset the clock and radio presets if they changed after battery disconnection.
• If the driver window auto-up feature stops working, relearn it by holding the window switch fully down for 2 seconds, then fully up for 2 seconds.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $420-$750 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $160-$330 (parts only)

You Save: $260-$420 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.

Guide for Starter Motor replace for these Ford vehicles

Year Make Model	Sub Model	Engine	Body Style
2019 Ford Escape	S	-	-
2018 Ford Escape	S	-	-
2017 Ford Escape	S	-	-
2016 Ford Escape	S	-	-
2015 Ford Escape	S	-	-
2014 Ford Escape	S	-	-
2013 Ford Escape	S	-	-