i left the owners manual in my other apt. i'm not sure what the starter looks like, and can i access it from the top or bottom of the car?

 

You access the starter from the top of the engine. It is located on the drivers side under throttle body. You will need to remove the air intake tubing from the throttle body and remove the air box (where the air filter is) if you want to replace it.

 

Remanufactured units are available for $140 (Brand X) up to $360 (Bosch).
If done by a professional the labor charge ought to be one hour.
This is a job which can be done by the home mechanic.
No need to jack the car, the starter motor is accessed from above.

1. Make written notes of the radio station presets. Disconnecting the battery will cause the radio and clock to experience "amnesia".

2. Disconnect the cable from the negative terminal of the battery.

3. Remove the air intake duct and the air cleaner housing assembly.

4. Disconnect the battery cable and the solenoid terminal connection from the starter solenoid.

5. Remove the starter motor mounting bolts and remove the starter from the engine. These bolts may be really tight!

6. Installation of the starter is the reverse of steps 5 - 2, above.

7. Set the clock to the correct time. Refer to the notes made in step 1 to restore the radio station presets.

For more information (including photos), go to http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/starter.html