🔧 Palisade - Starter Motor Replacement

Your starter motor cranks the engine when you press Start. When it fails, you may get a single click, slow/no crank, or intermittent starting. On your Palisade, the starter is mounted to the transmission bellhousing and is typically accessed from underneath after removing the lower covers.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable first to prevent an electrical short.
• ⚠️ Support your Palisade with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Let the exhaust cool before working underneath (burn risk).
• ⚠️ Keep the key fob at least 15 ft away so the vehicle can’t “wake up” unexpectedly.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Trim clip remover
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• Socket set: 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm
• Wrench set: 10mm, 12mm, 14mm
• Extension set (3", 6", 12")
• Universal joint adapter (3/8" drive)
• Torque wrench (10-100 ft-lbs range)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Flashlight

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Starter motor assembly - Qty: 1
• Starter electrical terminal nut (if supplied/needed) - Qty: 1
• Lower engine cover clips (push-type retainers) - Qty: 2-6

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and apply the parking brake.
• Chock the rear wheels using wheel chocks.
• Open the hood and disconnect the battery: use a 10mm socket to remove the negative (-) terminal and isolate it so it can’t spring back.
• A universal joint helps reach angled bolts. A universal joint adapter is a swiveling socket adapter that lets your extension bend slightly.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and secure the vehicle

• Lift the front of your Palisade using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the proper front jacking point.
• Set it down onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and gently shake the vehicle to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove the lower engine cover (undertray)

• Use a trim clip remover and flat-blade screwdriver to remove the plastic push-clips and loosen any fasteners holding the lower cover.
• Use a 10mm socket (if equipped with small bolts) to remove remaining fasteners, then lower the cover out of the way.

Step 3: Locate the starter

• Use a flashlight to find the starter on the transmission bellhousing area (where the engine and transmission meet).
• Identify two connections: the thick battery cable on the large stud, and the smaller control wire on the solenoid connector.

Step 4: Disconnect the starter wiring

• If there’s a protective rubber boot, pull it back by hand.
• Use a 12mm socket (common) to remove the nut from the large battery cable terminal, then lift the cable off and move it aside.
• Disconnect the smaller control wire connector by pressing the lock tab (use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if the tab is stubborn).
• Keep hardware grouped so nothing gets lost.

Step 5: Remove the starter mounting bolts

• Support the starter with one hand while loosening the mounting bolts.
• Use a 14mm socket with a ratchet (3/8" drive) and extension set (3", 6", 12").
• If access is tight, add a universal joint adapter (3/8" drive) to angle the socket.
• Remove both mounting bolts and lower the starter out carefully.

Step 6: Install the new starter

• Compare the new starter to the old one (mounting ears, electrical studs, connector type) before installing.
• Position the new starter and hand-start both mounting bolts to prevent cross-threading.
• Tighten the starter mounting bolts using a 14mm socket and then finish with a torque wrench (10-100 ft-lbs range): Torque to 50 Nm (37 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Reconnect starter wiring

• Reconnect the small control wire connector until it clicks.
• Reinstall the large battery cable to the starter stud and tighten the nut using a 12mm socket: Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs).
• Reposition the rubber boot over the terminal.

Step 8: Reinstall the lower engine cover and lower the vehicle

• Reinstall the undertray using the original fasteners: push-clips by hand and any bolts with a 10mm socket.
• Raise slightly with the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum), remove jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum), and lower the vehicle fully.

Step 9: Reconnect the battery

• Reconnect the negative battery cable using a 10mm socket and make it snug (do not over-tighten the battery post clamp).

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✅ After Repair

• Start your Palisade and confirm it cranks strongly and starts normally.
• With the engine running, check underneath for any dangling wiring and verify the undertray is secure.
• If you get a single click/no crank, recheck the small trigger connector and the main battery cable nut for tightness.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $500-$900 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$450 (parts only)

You Save: $320-$450 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-3.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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