How do I remove flywheel dust and inspection covers on a 97 olds regency with the 3800 motor?

Sounds to me like a bad bendix on the starter or a bad flywheel, pull the dust cover off the front of the trans (after you remove starter) and inspect flywheel for worn or missing teeth. You will have to rotate the flywheel to check all the way around, but some times the bad part of the flywheel can be seen after the starter is removed.

Hi there:

1. If necessary for access, remove the splash shield.
   
2. If equipped, unfasten the flywheel inspection cover bolts and remove the cover.
   
3. Label and detach the electrical connectors from the starter.

Fig.: Unfasten the starter motor electrical connections. You may want to tag them first to avoid confusion




Fig.: Exploded view of the starter motor mounting - 1987-97 vehicles

Hope this helps; also keep in mind that your feedback is important and I`ll appreciate your time and consideration if you leave some testimonial comment about this answer.

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There are only 2 bolts. They go straight up through the starter motor housing into the engine block. You may have some plastic covers that go around the starter and flywheel area that will need to be removed to get to them.

Please see my tip at http://www.fixya.com/cars/r5973094-starter_replace . If you get stuck, please get back to me. Exact procedure from autozone.com is pasted below.

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   Negative battery cable Radiator air baffle, for clearance if necessary Flywheel inspection cover bolts Flywheel inspection cover Electrical connections from the starter motor Starter motor mounting bolts Starter motor

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   NOTE Before installing the starter motor to the engine, tighten the nut next to the cap on the solenoid BAT terminal. If this terminal is not tight in the solenoid cap, the cap may be damaged during installation of electrical connections and cause the starter motor to fail later.
   
   Starter motor Starter motor mounting bolts and tighten the bolts to 30 ft. lbs. (40 Nm) Electrical connection to the battery terminal on the solenoid and tighten the battery terminal nut to 13 ft. lbs. (17 Nm) Electrical connections to the S terminal on the solenoid and tighten solenoid S terminal nut to 27 inch lbs. (3 Nm) Flywheel inspection cover Flywheel inspection cover bolts Radiator air baffle, if removed
   
2. Connect the negative battery cable

Removal & Installation - Starter

1. Before servicing the vehicle.
   
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Radiator air baffle assembly
   Electrical connections Torque converter cover Starter
   

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   Starter. Torque the bolts to 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm). Torque converter cover Solenoid -BAT- terminal. Torque the nut to 89 inch lbs. (10 Nm). Solenoid -S- terminal. Torque the nut to 27 inch lbs. (3 Nm). Radiator air baffle assembly Negative battery cable
2. Perform a charging system test and verify the starter is operating properly
   

Fig. Showing the starter motor location and electrical connections

1. Before servicing the vehicle.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Radiator air baffle, for clearance if necessary Flywheel inspection cover bolts Flywheel inspection cover Electrical connections from the starter motor Starter motor mounting bolts Starter motor
   

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   NOTE Before installing the starter motor to the engine, tighten the nut next to the cap on the solenoid BAT terminal. If this terminal is not tight in the solenoid cap, the cap may be damaged during installation of electrical connections and cause the starter motor to fail later.
   
   Starter motor Starter motor mounting bolts and tighten the bolts to 30 ft. lbs. (40 Nm) Electrical connection to the battery terminal on the solenoid and tighten the battery terminal nut to 13 ft. lbs. (17 Nm) Electrical connections to the S terminal on the solenoid and tighten solenoid S terminal nut to 27 inch lbs. (3 Nm) Flywheel inspection cover Flywheel inspection cover bolts Radiator air baffle, if removed
2. Connect the negative battery cable

Hope helps, remember rated this.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
(see Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise and support the vehicle safely.
3. If necessary for access, remove the splash shield.
4. If equipped, unfasten the flywheel inspection cover bolts and remove the cover.
5. Label and detach the electrical connectors from the starter.

Fig. 2: Unfasten the starter motor electrical connections. You may want to tag them first to avoid confusion



Fig. 3: Exploded view of the starter motor electrical connections

1. It may allow more room it you remove the right side cooling fan.
2. Remove the starter-to-engine bolts, then carefully lower the starter from the vehicle.

Fig. 4: The starter is attached to the engine with 2 mounting bolts (see arrows)



Fig. 5: Unfasten the front mounting bolt (1) and remove any necessary shims (2), noting their locations for installation



Fig. 6: Unfasten the long starter mounting bolt, then remove the starter motor from the vehicle


Before installing the starter motor, make sure the electrical terminals are secure by tightening the nuts next to the cap on the solenoid battery terminal and on the "S" terminal. If these terminals are not tight in the solenoid cap, the cap may be damaged during installation of the electrical connections and cause premature starter failure.



Fig. 7: Exploded view of the starter motor mounting - 1987-97 vehicles


To install:
Note the location of any shims so they may be replaced in the same positions upon installation.

1. Place the starter in position, then install the starter-to-engine bolts and tighten to 32 ft. lbs. (43 Nm).
2. Attach the electrical connectors to the starter, as tagged during removal. Tighten as follows:
1. Tighten the nut on the solenoid battery terminal to 12 ft. lbs. (16 Nm).
2. On the SD-250 and SD-255 models, tighten the nut on the "S" terminal to 22 inch lbs. (2.5 Nm).
3. If removed, install the flywheel inspection cover and secure with the retaining bolts. Tighten the flywheel cover bolts to 62 inch lbs. (7 Nm).
4. If removed, install the splash shield.
5. Carefully lower the vehicle.
6. Connect the negative battery cable.

Hope helps (remember rated and comment his).

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
(see Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise and support the vehicle safely.
3. If necessary for access, remove the splash shield.
4. If equipped, unfasten the flywheel inspection cover bolts and remove the cover.
5. Label and detach the electrical connectors from the starter.
   

Fig. 2: Unfasten the starter motor electrical connections. You may want to tag them first to avoid confusion



Fig. 3: Exploded view of the starter motor electrical connections

1. It may allow more room it you remove the right side cooling fan.
2. Remove the starter-to-engine bolts, then carefully lower the starter from the vehicle.

Fig. 4: The starter is attached to the engine with 2 mounting bolts (see arrows)



Fig. 5: Unfasten the front mounting bolt (1) and remove any necessary shims (2), noting their locations for installation



Fig. 6: Unfasten the long starter mounting bolt, then remove the starter motor from the vehicle

Before installing the starter motor, make sure the electrical terminals are secure by tightening the nuts next to the cap on the solenoid battery terminal and on the "S" terminal. If these terminals are not tight in the solenoid cap, the cap may be damaged during installation of the electrical connections and cause premature starter failure.



Fig. 7: Exploded view of the starter motor mounting - 1987-97 vehicles

To install:


Note the location of any shims so they may be replaced in the same positions upon installation.

1. Place the starter in position, then install the starter-to-engine bolts and tighten to 32 ft. lbs. (43 Nm).
2. Attach the electrical connectors to the starter, as tagged during removal. Tighten as follows:
   
1. Tighten the nut on the solenoid battery terminal to 12 ft. lbs. (16 Nm).
2. On the SD-250 and SD-255 models, tighten the nut on the "S" terminal to 22 inch lbs. (2.5 Nm).
   


3. If removed, install the flywheel inspection cover and secure with the retaining bolts. Tighten the flywheel cover bolts to 62 inch lbs. (7 Nm).
4. If removed, install the splash shield.
5. Carefully lower the vehicle.
6. Connect the negative battery cable.

Hope helps (remember rated and comment this).

Alero, Grand Am 1999-2005 Repair Guide
Starter - Removal & Installation

2.2L Engine

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Starter electrical connector Starter motor
   
   
   
   Fig. Starter mounting-2.2L engine
   

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   Starter motor. Torque the bolts to 30 ft. lbs. (40 Nm). Starter electrical connectors Negative battery cable
   

3.1L Engine

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Starter electrical connectors Starter motor

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   Starter motor. Torque the bolts to 32 ft. lbs. (43 Nm). Starter electrical connectors Negative battery cable
   

3.4L Engine

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   Negative battery cable Flywheel inspection cover Starter electrical connectors Starter motor

To install:
Install or connect the following:
Starter motor. Torque the bolts to 32 ft. lbs. (43 Nm). Starter electrical connectors Flywheel inspection cover. Torque the bolts to 89 inch lbs. (10 Nm). Negative battery cable


I hope helps with this. Good luck (remember rated this help).

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   
2. Raise and support the vehicle safely.
   
3. If necessary for access, remove the splash shield.
   
4. If equipped, unfasten the flywheel inspection cover bolts and remove the cover.
   
5. Label and detach the electrical connectors from the starter.
   

Unfasten the starter motor electrical connections. You may want to tag them first to avoid confusion


Exploded view of the starter motor electrical connections

2. It may allow more room it you remove the right side cooling fan.
   
4. Remove the starter-to-engine bolts, then carefully lower the starter from the vehicle.
   

The starter is attached to the engine with 2 mounting bolts (see arrows)


Unfasten the front mounting bolt (1) and remove any necessary shims (2), noting their locations for installation


Unfasten the long starter mounting bolt, then remove the starter motor from the vehicle

Before installing the starter motor, make sure the electrical terminals are secure by tightening the nuts next to the cap on the solenoid battery terminal and on the "S" terminal. If these terminals are not tight in the solenoid cap, the cap may be damaged during installation of the electrical connections and cause premature starter failure.


Exploded view of the starter motor mounting - 1987-97 vehicles

To install:
Note the location of any shims so they may be replaced in the same positions upon installation.

1. Place the starter in position, then install the starter-to-engine bolts and tighten to 1 ft. lbs. (43 Nm).
   
2. Attach the electrical connectors to the starter, as tagged during removal. Tighten as follows:
   
   1. Tighten the nut on the solenoid battery terminal to 12 ft. lbs. (16 Nm).
      
   2. On the SD-250 and SD-255 models, tighten the nut on the "S" terminal to 22 inch lbs. (2.5 Nm).
      
3. If removed, install the flywheel inspection cover and secure with the retaining bolts. Tighten the flywheel cover bolts to 62 inch lbs. (7 Nm).
   
4. If removed, install the splash shield.
   
5. Carefully lower the vehicle.
   
6. Connect the negative battery cable.
   

Be sure to disconnect the battery first. There are HOT wires connected to the starter. Disconnect three wires and two mounting bolts. It can be difficult to reach a wrench in there.

The new starter will come with shims, thin strips of metal. These are for getting the right distance between the starter gear and the flywheel. Hopefully you won't need them. But if the new starter is noisy when mounted, shim it some.