Daewoo Nubira Starter Replacement Tips

Both the dealer service manual and the applicable Chilton guide make removing and replacing the starter on the Daewoo Nubira sound simple: remove the wires, unbolt the old one, bolt the new one on, replace the wires, and you're done.

What they're not so clear on is where the starter is located: above the transaxle, and underneath the intake manifold. If one knows it's there, it can be seen--barely--with everything else left intact. To remove it without removing the intake manifold (or taking the engine out of the car) is nearly impossible. You will have to remove the intake manifold to remove your Nubira's starter. Moreover, you will have to remove the throttle body to properly torque the intake manifold retaining nuts when putting everything back together. Prepare for this by ordering an intake manifold gasket and a throttle body gasket from Daewoo; even if your starter has not yet failed, add these gaskets to your next parts order so you are not waiting a week to perform a repair that can be done in a night. A remanufactured starter can be had from AutoZone and other auto parts chains and stores. Even if only the starter solenoid fails, I recommend replacing the starter as a unit, because the starter on a high-mileage car is bound to fail, and this repair is such a hassle.

In addition to the gaskets and standard auto repair tools (sockets, screwdrivers, ratchets, a torque wrench), you will also need deep sockets, specifically in the 10 mm and 14 mm size. I also recommend using anti-seize compound on all threads for which it would be sensible. When replacing my alternator, I had previously used it on the bolts holding the intake manifold to alternator support bracket to the intake manifold and the engine block. It made disassembly for this job much easier.