You need fuel and oxygen along with a spark in order for your car to run. You need a way for the process to begin as well, and that’s the function that your starter performs. The 1999 Altima is a well built machine produced by Japanese manufacturer Nissan. Even the best quality product will wear out over time, however, and this includes the starter in your Nissan Altima. Save yourself some money from high labor charges and do the repair yourself. It’ll only take about two hours to do it in your driveway or garage.
Things You’ll Need
- Automobile jack
- Jack stand
- Wheel chocks
- Marker
- Masking tape
- Screwdriver
- Metric socket set
- Metric wrench set
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Open the engine compartment and disconnect the negative battery terminal with a wrench. Remove the air duct assembly by disconnecting the hose clamps with a screwdriver and unclipping the air box. The air cleaner is a black box to the left of the battery.
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Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels and raise the car up with the automobile jack. Place a jack stand under the frame and raise it as close to the frame as possible.
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Tag the wires on the starter and the solenoid with a marker and masking tape. Remove the wires from the starter and solenoid with the wrench.
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Remove the bolts from the starter with a ratchet and socket then pull it away from the engine.
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Install the new starter in place and tighten the bolts with the socket and ratchet. Reconnect the wires according to how you marked them and tighten the nuts with the wrench.
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Remove the jack stand from under the car and lower it to the ground with the jack.
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Mount the air box back into place, clipping it in. Reconnect the air duct and tighten the clamps with the screwdriver.
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Reconnect the negative battery terminal and start the car to test it.
Tips & Warnings
- Consider replacing the solenoid as well when you have everything apart if it is original to the car.