Dumb question... According to AllData, this is the procedure for replacing the starter on a 1997 Nissan Sentra: Remove battery negative cable from battery. Remove intake air duct. Remove starter motor mounting bolts. Remove battery cable from starter motor. Disconnect harness connector from starter motor harness. Remove starter motor. Everything else I've read states to remove from below the vehicle. Which is correct?

Starter Motor -located to articulate with flywheel that has gear teeth between the engine and transmission accessible from down below. REMOVAL & INSTALLATION 240SX WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
2. Support the transmission with a jack and remove the 4 rear mounting bracket bolts.
3. Lightly lower the transmission to make room and pull out the dipstick tube.
4. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Negative battery cable
   • Connector bracket from the front mount bracket
   • Harness connector
   • Starter bolts
   • Starter
   To install:
   
5. Install or connect the following:
   • Starter and torque the bolts to 30-37 ft. lbs. (40-50 Nm)
   • Harness connector
   • Connector bracket to the front mount bracket
   • Dipstick tube
   • Transmission into position
   • 4 rear mounting bracket bolts
   • Negative battery cable
6. Remove the transmission jack

WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Negative battery cable
   • Connector bracket from the front mount bracket
   • Harness connector
   • Starter bolts
   • Starter
   To install:
   
3. Install or connect the following:
   • Starter and torque the bolts to 30-37 ft. lbs. (40-50 Nm)
   • Harness connector
   • Connector bracket to the front mount bracket
   • Negative battery cable

1.6L and 2.0L Engines

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Negative battery cable
   • Wiring at the starter
   • Bolts attaching the starter to the engine
   • Starter
   To install:
   
3. Install or connect the following:
   • Starter and torque the bolts to 70 inch lbs. (8 Nm)
   • Starter electrical connections
   • Negaative battery cable

Maxima

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Negative battery cable
   • Air duct
   • Harness protector from the harness
   • Starter wiring at the starter
   • Starter-to-engine bolts
   • Starter from the vehicle

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   To install:
   
2. Install or connect the following:
   • Starter and torque the long bolt to 57-72 ft. lbs. (77-98 Nm) and the short bolt to 22-30 ft. lbs. (30-41 Nm)
   • Starter wiring
   • Harness protector
   • Air duct
   • Negative battery cable

Altima

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Negative battery cable
   • Air inlet tube
   • Harness bracket
   • Wiring at the starter
   • Starter
   To install:
   
2. Install or connect the following:
   • Starter and torque the bolts to 60 inch lbs. (7 Nm)
   • Starter electrical connectors
   • Harness bracket
   • Air inlet tube
   • Negative battery cable

IF BATTERY CABLES CLEAN AND TIGHT.THE PROBLEM COULD BE FAULTY STARTER SOLENOID OR STARTER.TURN OFF RADIO BEFORE REMOVING NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE SO YOU WONT LOCK OUT RADIO.

Nissan Car Altima & Sentra 1999-06 StarterRemoval & Installation

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Air duct Harness protector from the harness Starter wiring at the starter Starter-to-engine bolts Starter from the vehicle



Fig. Starter location and mounting detail-3.0L Maxima with a manual transaxle



Fig. Starter location and mounting detail-3.5L Maxima

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   Starter and torque the long bolt to 57-72 ft. lbs. (77-98 Nm) on Altima and Maxima and 41 ft. lbs. (55 Nm) on 350 Z. torque the short bolt to 22-30 ft. lbs. (30-41 Nm) Starter wiring Harness protector Air duct Negative battery cable

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Air inlet tube Harness bracket Wiring at the starter Starter

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   Starter and torque the bolts to 60 inch lbs. (7 Nm) Starter electrical connectors Harness bracket Air inlet tube Negative battery cable

1.6L & 2.0L Engines

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Wiring at the starter Bolts attaching the starter to the engine Starter

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   Starter and torque the bolts to 70 inch lbs. (8 Nm) Starter electrical connections Negaative battery cable
   

1.6L, 1.8L & 2.0L Engines

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Wiring at the starter Bolts attaching the starter to the engine Starter

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   Starter and torque the bolts to 70 inch lbs. (8 Nm) Starter electrical connections Negative battery cable
   

1.8L & 2.0L Engines

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions section.
   
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Wiring at the starter Bolts attaching the starter to the engine Starter
   

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   Starter and torque the bolts to 70 inch lbs. (8 Nm) Starter electrical connections Negative battery cable
   

2.4L & 2.5L Engines

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Air inlet tube Harness bracket Wiring at the starter Starter

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   Starter and torque the bolts to 60 inch lbs. (7 Nm) Starter electrical connectors Harness bracket Air inlet tube Negative battery cable
   

2.4L Engine

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Air inlet tube Harness bracket Wiring at the starter Starter
   

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   Starter and torque the bolts to 60 inch lbs. (7 Nm) Starter electrical connectors Harness bracket Air inlet tube Negative battery cable

2.5L Engine

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Air cleaner cover and duct Harness bracket Wiring at the starter Starter

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   Starter and torque the bolts to 60 inch lbs. (7 Nm) Starter electrical connectors Harness bracket Air inlet tube Negative battery cable

3.5L Engines

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Air cleaner case (upper) and air cleaner to electric throttle control actuator tube. Harness protector from the harness Starter wiring at the starter Starter-to-engine bolts Starter from the vehicle
   
   
   Fig. Starter location and mounting detail-3.5L engine
   

continue...

YOU NEED A HAYNES REPAIR.IT HAS PHOTOS TO SHOW YOU HOW TO REMOVE STARTER.

Disconnect battery negative cable Remove and Install Battery Cable
Raise vehicle.
For easier servicing, do not remove the wiring from starter at this time.
Remove three starter attaching bolts from engine/transaxle Starter -
Remove starter assembly from transmission housing. Position the starter to gain access to the wiring connectors.
Remove the battery positive cable nut from starter and remove the cable Wire Terminal Connections .
Remove the starter from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
For installation, reverse the above procedures. Clean corrosion/dirt from the cable and wire terminals before installing wiring to the solenoid.Thank you for using FixYa,Lee Davidian

first unhook the battery, remove the air cleaner box and ducting to the throttle body, you will see the 2 bolts for the top. you will then need to go under the vehicle(make sure the vehicle is properly supported), and you will see the bracket between the engine block and the intake manifold, remove it.the starter wire does not get removed from the starter, it has a connector about 4-5 inches away. disconnect it there. disconnect the battery cable from the starter, remove the last bolt and it will come right out. all in all it takes about 30 minutes. most places will charge a "core charge" on a product like this. dont be suprised, however when you return the old starter you will get your money back. let me know if you need further assistance.

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   Negative battery cable Air inlet tube Harness bracket Wiring at the starter Starter

To install:
Install or connect the following:

Starter and torque the bolts to 60 inch lbs. (7 Nm) Starter electrical connectors Harness bracket Air inlet tube Negative battery cable




Thanks for using FixYa - a Very Helpful rating is appreciated for answering your FREE question.

According the manual...no. Here is a cut and paste from it....

Oil Pan REMOVAL & INSTALLATION 3.8L Engine

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
3. Drain the oil pan, then remove the oil filter. Position the drain pan out of the way.
4. Remove the dual converter Y-pipe assembly.
5. Remove the starter motor. For details, please refer to the procedure located earlier in this section.
6. Remove the engine rear plate/converter housing cover.
7. Remove the retaining bolts and remove the oil pan.

I changed the starter in my 1996 Nissan Sentra, and I assume the 1997 Sentra is very similar to mine. It's a VERY nasty job. Basic steps are: 1) put car on lift or on ramps (so you can get underneath) 2) remove cable connections to battery 3) remove oil filter (yes, that's right. The filter needs to be removed to provide proper clearance for your hands, tools, and starter itself. Yuck!) 4) remove the bolt on the lower portion of the support strut for the intact manifold, so the support strut can be gently moved slightly to the side to provide clearance 5) remove the electrical connections to the starter 6) remove the 2 bolts holding the starter to the engine. One is accessible from below, and the other one (believe it or not) is accessible from the top. Installation of course is the reverse of the above. It's a genuine pain to change the starter. But, on the positive side, it beats having to pay the dealer or a mechanic.

There are a few tips/under line a few points, after just having done it. You need a long group of extensions. Just undo both battery cables to minimize risk. Undo where the negative battery cable attaches to the engine. There is a bolt next to this that you can undo too. Either this bolt or the battery cable bolt holds the starter. (you'll see on the starter housing one bolt hole is trhough, one is threaded.)
Remove the oil filter. Remove the plastic shroud near the right tire. Remove the strut (or at least the lowest bolt so you can turn it) that will make it impossible to get a socket or remove the starter itself. Unscrew the bolt for the power cable to the starter assembly before removing the starter. Now use your long, long extension to hold the ratcher near the right wheel and tunnel through that mess to get the underneath 14mm bolt. Wiggling out the starter assembly is like getting the oil filter out, a bit crowded.