The starter in your Honda Accord is responsible for starting your engine and car. When you turn your key to the “START” position, the starter in your Accord kicks into action. The starter is comprised of a plunger and ring gear, and when the key is turned this plunger sends the ring gear into your flywheel.
The ring gear engages the teeth pressed onto the flywheel, which then rotates the crankshaft. During the crankshaft revolution, your crankshaft position sensor, camshaft position sensor and manifold absolute pressure sensor allow your ECU to fire the spark plugs and fuel injectors. As soon as your F23 engine fires over, you can let go of the key.
Do not hold the key at the “START” position, or turn the key to that position with your engine already started. Doing so will cause immediate damage to the starter plunger, ring gear as well as the teeth on the flywheel.
Sometimes however, when your battery is low or your starter solenoid is tired or bad, nothing happens when you turn the key to “START”. The sound of your engine roaring to life, is instead replaced by an empty sounding click. This is a good sign that either your battery is very low or weak, and cannot start your engine, or your starter or starter solenoid is going bad.
Today we’ll be showing you how to save some money and teaching you how to change a Honda Accord starter in a 2001 Honda Accord with a SOHC VTEC F23 engine in it. If your Honda Accord starter is giving you problems, you should check your battery first to make sure that it’s not the root problem. The replacement for this starter on your F23 engine is 31200-P0A-003 or 31200-PAA-A01, or you can always find the interchange as DXDRE or DXKI4.
Your F23A1 Honda Accord starter is connected to the main power wire, which leads to your fusebox in your engine bay. Unfortunately, because of the way this starter is mounted, it can be difficult to remove because of the wiring harnesses and air conditioning lines in place. You can do this one of two ways, you can either elect to disconnect the 8mm bolt that secures the power wire, or you can disconnect everything on the front of your engine.
We’ll be disconnecting everything in front of the engine for our DIY how to change a Honda Accord starter guide. To begin disconnect the negative battery terminal on your battery or simply remove the battery all together. Removal of your battery and battery tray is not required for this DIY How to Change a Honda Accord starter article, but it wouldn’t hurt any.
Once you’ve got the battery disconnected, undo the 10mm bolts that hold your factory air box and piping in place. When you get your airbox free, go ahead and loosen the clamp on the throttle body inlet to remove the factory air intake.
As you can see here, the battery is taking up a huge part of the engine bay room you’ll need to get to the starter. If you want more room for this job, remove the battery by undoing the positive battery terminal and the 4 12mm bolts that run through the battery tray. Don’t forget that last pesky 12mm bolt that’s underneath your battery tray, going into the frame rail.
Next begin unplugging your front 02 sensor, and remove the distributor by unplugging the main harness. Remove the 12mm bolts that hold the distributor in place, and then leave the distributor with spark plug wires intact on top of the motor.
You do not need to remove the spark plugs or the firing order on your distributor cap for this job. Don’t forget the engine coolant temperature sensor, or the dummy light sensor that’s on the side of your SOHC VTEC F23A1 cylinder head.
Begin loosening the two 14mm bolts that hold your Honda Accord starter in place. Remove these bolts and set them to the side. If you have not disconnected the power wire from your fusebox, you can try to lift up on your starter and remove the 12mm nut to free your starter. Don’t forget to unplug the starter solenoid spade wire, simply pull it out.
If you have an automatic Honda Accord, disconnect all the transmission and speed sensors for your transmission ECU as well. Disconnect the TCC and all the assorted plugs on the front of your engine to gain the most amount of room.
Now with those wires and harnesses pushed out of the way, you can lift up and remove your factory Honda starter. Once you have it removed, replace with your new Honda Accord F23A1 starter and tighten the 14mm bolts to specification.
Reconnect the power wire, all your transmission sensors and make sure that the starter solenoid spade is firmly in place before trying to start your Honda Accord. You now know how to Change a Honda Accord Starter by using our handy DIY guide. Have any questions or comments? Leave them for us below!
