The Basics on How to Change a 1990 Chevy Cavalier Starter

In 1982, Chevrolet released an all-new front-wheel-drive vehicle: the Cavalier. The initial Cavalier came fitted with a 1.8-liter, carbureted, four-cylinder engine that produced only 88 horsepower. By 1990, the Cavalier's base engine had grown to 2.2-liters and it produced 95 horsepower. The 1990 Cavalier also included a Z24 edition that came equipped with a 140-horsepower, 3.1-liter V-6. Starting both engines involves three main processes: delivering fuel and air, applying spark and cranking the engine's internal components. The starter is responsible for cranking the engine's internal components and can fail over time. Replacing the starter on the 1990 Cavalier, on either engine size, is not a very difficult task.

Instructions

Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery, using a combination wrench, and set the cable aside.

Raise the front of the Cavalier with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the vehicle's subframe. Lower the Cavalier until only the jack stands support its weight.

Crawl under the Cavalier and locate the starter near the front of the vehicle, where the engine meets the transmission.

Label all of the wires connecting into the rear of the starter with masking tape and a permanent marker. Loosen the nuts securing the wires to the rear of the starter, using a combination wrench, and pull the wires from the starter.

Remove the bolts securing the bending brace and the metal brace around the starter, then pull the brace from the engine. Only Cavaliers equipped with a manual transmission and a 2.2-liter engine have a bending brace.

Remove the two bolts securing the starter to the engine, using a ratchet and socket. Remove the bolt holding the starter bracket to the engine, using a ratchet and socket, and pull the starter from the engine.

Remove the nuts holding the starter bracket to the rear of the starter and remove the bracket from the starter. Set the bracket on the rear of the new starter and hand-tighten the nuts.

Set the new starter in the hole in the engine and hand-tighten the starter-to-engine bolts and the starter bracket-to-engine bolt. Torque the starter-to-engine bolts to 32 foot-pounds, the starter bracket-to-starter nuts to 8 to 9 foot-pounds and the starter bracket-to-engine bolt to 24 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

Connect the wires to the rear of the starter in the same fashion they were on the old starter. Tighten the power wire to 8 to 9 foot-pounds and the S-terminal to 1 to 2 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

Attach the bending brace to the starter and engine and tighten the bending brace bolts with a ratchet and socket, if equipped with a manual transmission.

Raise the Cavalier from the jack stands with a floor jack, and remove the jack stands from under the vehicle. Lower the Chevrolet to the ground.

Reconnect the negative battery cable and tighten it to 11 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Tow the Cavalier to a local auto repair facility that uses a Tech 1 or equivalent scan tool to have the idle learn procedure completed, if your Cavalier has the 3.1-liter engine. Do not attempt to start a 3.1-liter equipped Cavalier without having this procedure completed.