You would laugh at me, I have a love/hate relationship with these starters. I literally have changed one on my 08’ Navigator, at a Florida rest stop. I went a little deeper into this repair just because I wanted others to possibly learn from my struggles. Thanks for the feedback!
@@2horsemanHaha oh boy sounds like a pain. I'm glad you decided to share your knowledge so others don't have to suffer quite as much with changing the part 👍🏻
Good advice on replacing the solenoid versus the complete starter because of it only being a year old.but for those of you with an older starter or especially the original starter, I highly suggest just replace the whole unit. Because of it being such a PITA job you don't want to be back under there a week or 6 months or a year even later doing it all over again. Also that's not an allen wrench ;) just sayin... Great video though 👍
One Soundman / You are so true about the pain of changing a starter, it can be very aggravating at the least. And yes, if your starter is old, agree totally, you may be better off changing it. It took me several searches and a while to figure out this option, and I have not seen a video where this is done “in-place”. Plus, I had a few extra starter parts laying around to help with show and tell. I can tell you know shop, glad you posted. Good comments!
I was resolved to snatch the whole starter cause clearances are tight ,,,rust ...........plus dont have that little ratchet,,,,, maybe I ll just look at solenoid thanks
Yes, you need the top bolt to insure proper alignment of the drive gear with the fly wheel. If you remove the solenoid from the starter motor, as shown in this video, you can easily access the top bolt to remove it. Then remove the solenoid from the new motor to install the top bolt for the motor and then install the new solenoid.
Hey, is there any way you could do a how-to on the whole starter? I have a 13 and it won't start and would honestly like to just remove the entire starter because I bought a new one.
I have changed the starter on my 08’ two times, including one at a rest stop while traveling on family vacation. To be honest, it is so very frustrating to complete, and for me, is only a “must fix to run” situation. I can give you a few pointers. (1) let the car cool overnight, you are working close to the exhaust manifold which will melt anything it touches; (2) pull the front passenger tire, support the car with multiple jack stands; (3) disconnect the battery first, always!; (4) do all your work under the car with the tire on, then pull the tire for the fender access work. At all costs, I avoid work under the car supported by jack stands. (5) you are going to need a swivel joint on your socket set, and a few extensions to reach the bold holding the starter under the fender. That is the most frustrating part. Getting it off is reasonable, just getting it back on and tight is hard. If any of the nuts are not tight, it can allow a loose fitment, which will cause your starter to not lock it and turn the engine. It will just spin on the mount. (Don’t ask how I know, it invokes bad memories of a few days after the job, and a stranded Navigator at the dentist). Hope this helps.
@@2horseman man I appreciate your reply I literally said screw it and did the whole job myself no experience and not on Jack stands. It was definitely frustrating it took me about two hrs lol. It had the original starter still on it and I tried to loosen one of the nuts holding the solenoid and it snapped the cheap plastic it was bolted to so I had to pull the hole thing out. I feel awesome getting it done though and want to thank you for getting a video of as much as you did!
Hi, Thanks for posting this video. I have a 2011 Lincoln Navigator giving me starting issues and I am thinking it could be the starter or the solenoid. Battery tests fine, connections look good. However, what's weird with my particular issue is that I can get the car started again by disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it. Once I do that the truck starts right up. Do you think this could be a faulty solenoid? Can't find any help on this on the web but just saw your helpful video. Thanks in advance!
Ya know, it a roll of the dice. I opted for the solenoid due to the lowest cost solution. My navigator is mainly highway (not off road, snow, mud, etc). I figured that the starter was fine. Oh, and did I mention I have changed 2 starters on this car already, and vowed to not ever change another starter (very frustrating to say the least). It is a very quick 20 min eBay solution. I would suggest starting it.
Alex Familia Little old but sounds like you are having problem with the anti theft or you are moving a loose or corroded connection. Did you track it down?
@@2horseman Hey! I actually found the problem. The battery had an aftermarket quick disconnect connection to one of the terminals that was causing the issues. Once I removed the quick-disconnect, it's been problem free. Thanks for following up! Hope this helps anyone experiencing a similar issues. The previous owner installed a quick-disconnect feature since the car was typically down during the summer months. I'm in FL and the previous owner was a snowbird retiree. This was my issue. Problem solved!
I have a 2012 Navigator, which is of the same generation as the 2008, but I don't know whether the starter had any changes or whether it's identical. How do you identify the correct solenoid for the starter motor, to be able to buy it through ebay?
They are the same starter, for 07’ through 14’. In my defense, I had an extra starter for my navigator in the garage and was able to pull the solenoid and just match it to the eBay part. Because it is a generic part, used in many starters, as just a simple plunger actuator to engage the starter motor, you can look for a matching picture and make sure it fits a Ford with the V8 (like the F150, Expedition, or Navigator). It has been a few years since I have done one, but pull the solenoid out and see if it has any markings on it you can search by? If not, start with 5.4L Ford V8’s in this year range until you see the matching picture. You will probably be fine from there. It has a very distinct translucent plastic plunger on the tip that gives it away. It only takes a few minutes to pull and install the new one, so you will know pretty quick if you got it right. (Disconnect the battery before you do anything with a starter, or you will get lit up). Hope this helps.
I found this on an older post, might help with your search “NEW SOLENOID COMPATIBLE WITH LINCOLN NAVIGATOR 5.4L 1999-09 F81Z-11000-AC F81Z11002AC YC3UAB”
Bryan Esparza / no kidding. I have done 2 starter replacements, one while parked at a FL rest stop. They are miserable. That led me to investigate the solenoid option. It is a plastic plunger and it can start sticking. My repair has been working for over 6-months now! Pretty good for $17.
to avoid having to remove solenoid when replacing whole starter use a 6 inch extension on a shorter length ratchet thank me later have done the starter twice and it's not fun
Very helpful, thank you Steven!
You would laugh at me, I have a love/hate relationship with these starters. I literally have changed one on my 08’ Navigator, at a Florida rest stop. I went a little deeper into this repair just because I wanted others to possibly learn from my struggles. Thanks for the feedback!
@@2horsemanHaha oh boy sounds like a pain. I'm glad you decided to share your knowledge so others don't have to suffer quite as much with changing the part 👍🏻
Ken Walker Thanks Steven I always check your site when working on our 08 Navigator
ThankYou Sir
I have to have a new ignition for my 2008 Navigator. Any helpful ideas how to save money on this.
Good advice on replacing the solenoid versus the complete starter because of it only being a year old.but for those of you with an older starter or especially the original starter, I highly suggest just replace the whole unit. Because of it being such a PITA job you don't want to be back under there a week or 6 months or a year even later doing it all over again. Also that's not an allen wrench ;) just sayin... Great video though 👍
One Soundman / You are so true about the pain of changing a starter, it can be very aggravating at the least. And yes, if your starter is old, agree totally, you may be better off changing it. It took me several searches and a while to figure out this option, and I have not seen a video where this is done “in-place”. Plus, I had a few extra starter parts laying around to help with show and tell. I can tell you know shop, glad you posted. Good comments!
I was resolved to snatch the whole starter cause clearances are tight ,,,rust ...........plus dont have that little ratchet,,,,, maybe I ll just look at solenoid thanks
do i really need that top bolt...would it cause a problem if i left it out...?
Yes, you need the top bolt to insure proper alignment of the drive gear with the fly wheel. If you remove the solenoid from the starter motor, as shown in this video, you can easily access the top bolt to remove it. Then remove the solenoid from the new motor to install the top bolt for the motor and then install the new solenoid.
Steven do you know where I can get that part I can not find it anywhere thank you
Yes. Look this up on Amazon “Rareelectrical NEW SOLENOID COMPATIBLE WITH LINCOLN NAVIGATOR 5.4L 1999-09 F81Z-11000-AC F81Z11002AC YC3UAB”
You might also be able to find it on EBay using that part number.
Hey, is there any way you could do a how-to on the whole starter? I have a 13 and it won't start and would honestly like to just remove the entire starter because I bought a new one.
I have changed the starter on my 08’ two times, including one at a rest stop while traveling on family vacation. To be honest, it is so very frustrating to complete, and for me, is only a “must fix to run” situation. I can give you a few pointers. (1) let the car cool overnight, you are working close to the exhaust manifold which will melt anything it touches; (2) pull the front passenger tire, support the car with multiple jack stands; (3) disconnect the battery first, always!; (4) do all your work under the car with the tire on, then pull the tire for the fender access work. At all costs, I avoid work under the car supported by jack stands. (5) you are going to need a swivel joint on your socket set, and a few extensions to reach the bold holding the starter under the fender. That is the most frustrating part. Getting it off is reasonable, just getting it back on and tight is hard. If any of the nuts are not tight, it can allow a loose fitment, which will cause your starter to not lock it and turn the engine. It will just spin on the mount. (Don’t ask how I know, it invokes bad memories of a few days after the job, and a stranded Navigator at the dentist). Hope this helps.
@@2horseman man I appreciate your reply I literally said screw it and did the whole job myself no experience and not on Jack stands. It was definitely frustrating it took me about two hrs lol. It had the original starter still on it and I tried to loosen one of the nuts holding the solenoid and it snapped the cheap plastic it was bolted to so I had to pull the hole thing out. I feel awesome getting it done though and want to thank you for getting a video of as much as you did!
Hi, Thanks for posting this video. I have a 2011 Lincoln Navigator giving me starting issues and I am thinking it could be the starter or the solenoid. Battery tests fine, connections look good. However, what's weird with my particular issue is that I can get the car started again by disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it. Once I do that the truck starts right up. Do you think this could be a faulty solenoid? Can't find any help on this on the web but just saw your helpful video. Thanks in advance!
Ya know, it a roll of the dice. I opted for the solenoid due to the lowest cost solution. My navigator is mainly highway (not off road, snow, mud, etc). I figured that the starter was fine. Oh, and did I mention I have changed 2 starters on this car already, and vowed to not ever change another starter (very frustrating to say the least). It is a very quick 20 min eBay solution. I would suggest starting it.
Alex Familia
Little old but sounds like you are having problem with the anti theft or you are moving a loose or corroded connection.
Did you track it down?
Hope you were able to get it fixed. Did you try replacing the solenoid?
@@2horseman Hey! I actually found the problem. The battery had an aftermarket quick disconnect connection to one of the terminals that was causing the issues. Once I removed the quick-disconnect, it's been problem free. Thanks for following up! Hope this helps anyone experiencing a similar issues.
The previous owner installed a quick-disconnect feature since the car was typically down during the summer months. I'm in FL and the previous owner was a snowbird retiree. This was my issue. Problem solved!
Alex Familia thank you for sharing back! First for me!
I have a 2012 Navigator, which is of the same generation as the 2008, but I don't know whether the starter had any changes or whether it's identical. How do you identify the correct solenoid for the starter motor, to be able to buy it through ebay?
They are the same starter, for 07’ through 14’. In my defense, I had an extra starter for my navigator in the garage and was able to pull the solenoid and just match it to the eBay part. Because it is a generic part, used in many starters, as just a simple plunger actuator to engage the starter motor, you can look for a matching picture and make sure it fits a Ford with the V8 (like the F150, Expedition, or Navigator). It has been a few years since I have done one, but pull the solenoid out and see if it has any markings on it you can search by? If not, start with 5.4L Ford V8’s in this year range until you see the matching picture. You will probably be fine from there. It has a very distinct translucent plastic plunger on the tip that gives it away. It only takes a few minutes to pull and install the new one, so you will know pretty quick if you got it right. (Disconnect the battery before you do anything with a starter, or you will get lit up). Hope this helps.
I found this on an older post, might help with your search “NEW SOLENOID COMPATIBLE WITH LINCOLN NAVIGATOR 5.4L 1999-09 F81Z-11000-AC F81Z11002AC YC3UAB”
@@2horseman Thanks. I'll check it out.
@@2horseman Thanks. Great info.
What is the part number for the solenoid??
283457686172 item number on eBay. (F81Z-11000-AC)
Bryan Esparza / posted eBay item #283457686172
Steven Ford thank you, hopefully it’s just the solenoid because I don’t look forward to taking off the starter!
Bryan Esparza / no kidding. I have done 2 starter replacements, one while parked at a FL rest stop. They are miserable. That led me to investigate the solenoid option. It is a plastic plunger and it can start sticking. My repair has been working for over 6-months now! Pretty good for $17.
www.ebay.com/itm/283457686172
to avoid having to remove solenoid when replacing whole starter use a 6 inch extension on a shorter length ratchet thank me later
have done the starter twice and it's not fun