[RMH Seville]

Ok group got a question. I’ve got an 04 Seville with the 4.6 Northstar. Got the lien codes and found the intake boot and the egr l shaped boot is toast. Both are hard and brittle. I’m going to do the injector seals, new TB boot to intake, intake seals and the egr l shaped rubber connector. Ok here’s my question. Would it be a good time to replace the starter since everything is open and it’s right there? Or do these Seville starters last a real long time? There is no problem with it presently. Looking forward to recommendations. Thanks ??

 

[Submariner409]

Usually we advise "If it ain't broke, don't fix it !" but in this case it would be smart to install a NEW AC Delco starter and double-check the cables and terminals. 16 years is enough time for a new starter.

2004 Seville is most likely a SLS model unless you have one of the 274 Canadian export STS that were made in the fall of 2003. The last 2004 MY Seville was built in December, 2003. Look at your driver's door sticker.

Use the GM/Cadillac service manuals for the intake procedures - some special torques - don't break anything. Instead of spending $200+ at www.helminc.com see if you can find the paper service manuals on eBay or subscribe the car to www.alldatadiy.com - the online GM service manuals plus a lot more.

 

[Ranger]

Removing the intake is not all THAT hard. Personally, I'd leave it alone. I have had 4 Northstar vehicles and never had to replace a starter yet. One was near 175K. Just my $0.02.

 

[Harry Yarnell]

I'm with Ranger on this one.

 

[04blacksls]

I would do it but only because I could not do the intake manifold gaskets/intake plenum replacement myself. Since I pay for things like this I'd rather spend another $160-$180 and do it once instead of having to pay the labor to remove everything again. There was nothing wrong with the starter in my '04 SLS when the plenum had to be replaced in 2017 at ~90k miles but I decided to do it anyway. The dealer let me buy the part myself so I saved some money. On the other hand if you are doing it yourself and don't mind the time to remove everything for a possible replacement down the road then you could easily wait.

 

[2004blackSLS]

Probably too late responding but I would replace the starter. The labor it takes to open everything up is extensive especially if you cannot do it yourself. I had a great local dealer who let me give them a brand new starter with lifetime warranty to plug in when they did the intake plenum and intake manifold gaskets. If you can do this yourself it makes sense to wait. If not, just have your mechanic plug it in while everything is apart. Otherwise you could be coming back to them in the future to do the same exact labor to replace the part they could have installed when they were doing anything else.