2011 GMC Acadia Starter Replacement

Replacing a starter and catalytic converter on a 2011 GMC Acadia with a 3.6 engine.

[@KTbug89]

I just had to replace mine on my 2011 Acadia in the middle of my vacation! Thank you to the comment that mentioned removing the oil filter and wiggling out I was able to replace the starter in the hotel parking lot in 1 1/2 hour!

[@JustinMentionedIt]

The oil filter? How’s that even in the way when that’s on the opposite side of the starter?

[@alexjeffs7092]

@@JustinMentionedIt it is in they way of getting the starter out the top, trust

[@alexjeffs7092]

Nice work

[@mikeanonymous669]

@@alexjeffs7092 can the starter be removed from top without pulling the catalytic converter???

[@alexjeffs7092]

@@mikeanonymous669 yes it can

[@RyanElkins75]

Excellent tutorial and camera work. Thanks for the help!

[@paycheckmonster]

Glad you liked. Thanks for watching!!

[@rickthorp8363]

Well, I'm here because my 2012 Acadia decided it didn't want to turn over anymore. I replaced the battery first as well, no change. It doesn't even try to start, it will click and all the gauges die. So I checked the cables and connections, all good. Now I gotta get the starter replaced and after watching this video I could do it, but don't have the time. So to my local mechanic we go lol.

[@paycheckmonster]

Thanks for watching!

[@antonyngichabe9084]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I was able to change mine in about 8 hours split over two days LOL!!. This truly helped the process. Truly the worst place to put a starter. very tight space indeed. Luckily, I did not have to use a torch like you did.

[@paycheckmonster]

Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!!

[@alexjeffs7092]

You can do by removing oil filter and finagling the starter up through the top . I couldn’t get my cat off so I did it without removing it

[@GoldenChiild615]

@@alexjeffs7092wait wait wait really? You can just move to oil filter and do it?

[@ronaldscott781]

Nice video. Appreciate all of your replies. 👍

[@paycheckmonster]

No problem 👍

[@robpeters5204]

Was that an OEM catalytic converter and was there a core charge? I need one for my 2011 Acadia.

[@paycheckmonster]

OEM. That's all I put it now. The aftermarket ones work on old models but not the newer stuff. I guess that's why they're a lot cheaper. No core charge on that one. Thanks for watching!!

[@angelf9800]

Can it be done with removing the motor mount and bracket.

[@paycheckmonster]

Unfortunately you have to pull the catalytic converter off. I just don't think there is a way around it. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesspicer4010]

You didn’t show hooking up the primary hot wire back onto the starter and the starter heat shield with the 8mm bolt. I only saw you connect the push plug wires back onto the starter. Some people say to take out the top Oxygen sensor and the Knock sensor and the starter out the top side instead of taking it out from the bottom. I’m not sure which is easier because you left out reconnecting the hot wire and the heat shield on the starter. I’m working on a 2010 and no video on that year is found.

[@paycheckmonster]

After the starter mounting bolts are in, you can reconnect the battery wire and put the shield on. I had a customer come in so I kinda lost my place in the video and didn't film that part, but it is just reverse proceedure. Not a bad job to do. Just seems like a lot of work for a starter. I''ve seen worse. Thanks for watching.

[@user-hv9bx6yp4g]

Did you reomove the exhaust manifold from the engine block itself too?

[@paycheckmonster]

No need to remove the manifold. Thanks for watching.

[@user-hv9bx6yp4g]

Thank you sir

[@mikeanonymous669]

Any auto parts store will have replacement exhaust studs in the HELP section.

[@supaklik9524]

Where your shop located

[@user-uh1hx5rw1j]

Hi I have a problem in cooling fans and include two powers the firsit work but the second parked what do you is the solution please answer

[@paycheckmonster]

Not really sure what your asking????

[@fbowie21]

do you think you could have gotten those exhaust bolts out without heat or breaking them?

[@paycheckmonster]

I couldn't get them out without heating them.

[@fbowie21]

@@paycheckmonster ok thanks I won't even try them lol

[@timicrowley6793]

At 13:20ish right as the starter is coming out you can see a wire bolted to the block that the starter was hiding, do you know what that is by chance?

[@paycheckmonster]

That should be Bank #2 knock sensor.

[@timicrowley6793]

@@paycheckmonster awesome. Thank you. Tried looking for wiring diagrams and different videos taking things off and hadn’t had any luck. Your the best

[@paycheckmonster]

@@timicrowley6793 Thanks for watching!!!

[@eljavipichiwooh8020]

Thanks 🙏

[@paycheckmonster]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@user-hv9bx6yp4g]

27:17 can I take the bracket off if the car is still on the ground? Not on a hoist as in.

[@paycheckmonster]

Yes you can. Thanks for watching!!

[@user-hv9bx6yp4g]

Sweet! Thank you Sir!

[@user-hv9bx6yp4g]

Hey sir! I've changed the starter and it runs but the crank is long before it starts. Like a hard start. I'm not quite sure

[@paycheckmonster]

Not sure what your case is is, but typically when you have an engine that has an extended crank before start, it's usually fuel related.

[@user-hv9bx6yp4g]

​@@paycheckmonster thank you sir!

[@bossmancustomz6891]

I think you did a great job reguardless of what you miss we all know it' go on the same way you took it off only thing I like to do is replace the gasket on the exhaust flange both sides reguardless of good or bad

[@paycheckmonster]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. New gaskets were installed top and bottom but I also just used a little high temp silcone to make sure it seals if there is any imperfection like rust. This one looked really good. It's just a habbit I guess.

[@user-hv9bx6yp4g]

Was there a specific reason you didn't you use wd 40 for the loosening of the bolt's below the heat shield?

[@paycheckmonster]

Fire wrench works better than liquid wrench in this case.

[@user-hv9bx6yp4g]

Okay. If I don't have that, would a little wd 40 work?

[@paycheckmonster]

@@user-hv9bx6yp4g All u can do is try and see if comes loose. Let her soak and see what happens!!

[@user-hv9bx6yp4g]

​@@paycheckmonster alright. Nice video! Thsnk you boss, I appreciate it.

[@dadirtydawg7789]

What kind of torch is that & where can I get one. Thx

[@paycheckmonster]

It comes from my welding supplier. I think it's a Victor. Heavy Duty Kit.

[@dadirtydawg7789]

@@paycheckmonster nice thank you

[@javiercarrillo5015]

what's the price for replacing it?

[@paycheckmonster]

You would have to check with your local repair shop. Pricing will very.

[@robcole332]

Where is your shop. I’ve got a 12 that needs a starter

[@robcole332]

Doesn’t look like a job for on your back

[@paycheckmonster]

Frahm's Service Center, 2239 Park Ln Se, Rochester, MN 55904

[@robcole332]

@@paycheckmonster That's a little too far for a starter. I'm in Virginia. Crap

[@JustinMentionedIt]

5:25 you think you could got those bolts out with the torch? Maybe some wd40 or something similar ?

[@paycheckmonster]

Every job is a little bit different. In my case I needed to use heat but you could always try a penetrant to see if that would work. Thanks for watching!!

[@Mr.Junior78]

where are you located

[@paycheckmonster]

Check the "about" tab on the main page. Thanks for watching!!

[@tonycastro6154]

YOU CAN UNDO ALL THE WIRING FROM THE STARTER ONCE YOU HAVE IT DOWN,,,IN MY CASE THE STUPID KNOWCH SENSOR WASNT ALLOWNG ME TO SCOOT IT ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK SO I REMOVED THE SENSOR 10MM,,,EVEN THE STUPID PLUG IS HARD TO GET OFF SINCE IT HAS A LOCK CLIP,,,SAME GOES FOR THE HEAT SHIELD YOU CAN SWAP WHEN TAKING OUT STARTER,,,,

[@ronfowler9563]

Just removed the starter from removing the oil filter... it...was...a...bytch but it was easier to put it back in. Truck still won't start and now something is completely draining my brand new battery! When I try to crank it, the battery gauge goes from 14 to 8! Helllllp meeee!!!

[@garretttartsah103]

What if you don't have a torch

[@paycheckmonster]

I think it would be a hard job to get those nuts loose without heat but maybe you could use some rust penetrant???

[@alexjeffs7092]

Just did this on my 2011 you can manage without taking off the catalytic converter. You have to remove the oil filter and finagle it but it did go for me

[@foxxrider250r]

How did you get to the bolts on the starter? Was it tricky?

[@alexjeffs7092]

@@foxxrider250r no I just used a werench . It was not to bad but not like super easy

[@alexjeffs7092]

@@foxxrider250r the harder part for me was honestly the connector

[@alexjeffs7092]

@@foxxrider250r the starter comes out from the top and it takes a bit of wiggling

[@alexjeffs7092]

@@foxxrider250r you can do it for sure

[@terrencemorris3983]

U have to replace the catalic converter also properly a 800 dollar job

[@mikematthews234]

U don’t have to take all that stuff off but hey 🤷🏾‍♂️ more then 1way to skin a cat

[@terrencemorris3983]

The starter on these trucks u have to take um to the shop to fix its to complex

[@mikematthews234]

No u don’t read comment below

[@corbittrichards3029]

Its not a Cadillac converter geesh

[@paycheckmonster]

Sure isn't.

[@kylko2000]

What is it then?

[@corbittrichards3029]

@@kylko2000 catalytic not cadillac. Ugh

[@kylko2000]

@@corbittrichards3029 oh lol well obviously I guess I'm so used to seeing it wrong I kind of skip past even reading it lmfao

[@mikematthews234]

Attention attention: LISTEN UP FELLOW AMERICANS ALL U HABE TO DO IS TAKE OFF THE HEAT SHIELD 3 10mm bolts Then unscrew the oil filter 3 15 mm bolts on starter( if u got a rachet wrench that’s the best tool for it) 14 mm nut starter wire TRUST ME DONT MESS WIT THE MOUNT OR THE CONVERTER PEACE N BLLESSINGS 💪🏿🧰🧰🧰🧰🧰🫵🏾 U DONT KNOW WHAT U DONT KNOW

[@CHB_98]

and how do you expect to get the starter out lol

[@mikematthews234]

@@CHB_98 obviously u haven’t done it yet or u didn’t follow the instructions my guy 🫵🏾💪🏿🧰🛠️ I made my money off of it already they gone drove away in it happy camper

[@alexjeffs7092]

To you saved me. I will attest you can remove the starter without removing the cat

[@mikematthews234]

@@alexjeffs7092yessir I jus did another one last week easy peezy. Manifold shield oil filter 3 15 mm bolts 💪🏿🥂30-45 mins

[@Rick_Smooth]

​@@mikematthews234What exactly do you mean by "oil filter, three 15 mm bolts?" Where are these bolts located?