How to get the nuts off the starter solenoid?

[Milehighguy303]

Ok - these nuts are making me nuts. I am about to give up and using a lifeline here. 2007 Seadoo GTI SE 155. I want to replace my starter solenoid just because it is getting old and don’t want to worry about this failure out and about. How do you get the nuts off the two cables when there is a rubber boot closely around the two nuts? And more importantly, are these Torx nuts, and what size? They aren’t typical nuts. I can’t get on the nut well enough to know if the nuts are E11 or E12. Maybe if I knew what it was, I could press hard enough to get inside the rubber boot. I can’t figure this out.

What I thought was going to be a 5 minute job has turned into a trip to Harbor Freight and trying different sizes and I still can’t get get it done.

If anyone has done this before and has good advice, please share. Thanks everyone!

 

[skiasylum]

The nuts are M6 if that helps, unless there not OEM

 

[maxthebird]

Did this a couple of years ago to a 2006 GTI. I think I used a 10mm thin walled socket. Don't recall it being that hard.

 

[Chester]

Just peel back the red boots and use a 10mm socket. Very easy.

Chester

 

[ski-d00]

10mm socket quarter inch drive and push and wiggle and it will flex the boot out of the way and slip inside the red rubber boot. Keep forward pressure on it while unscrewing. It will come right off in 10 seconds.

 

[Arkie Bob]

"Thin Wall" is the key. I wouldn't expect a HF socket to be nearly as thin wall as a Snap On, Matco, Mac. A dab of clear silicone grease on the exterior of the socket will make entry much easier. (I'd hope you were already aware of prelubing tool)

 

[Milehighguy303]

Thanks guys! Done. Just needed the direction and my 10 mm 1/4 inch drive craftsman deep socket worked just fine. Not sure why I couldn’t get on it previously, but it tricked me.