Thought I'd bump an old thread with some new info. I went to replace my 2005 starter. Turns out, the air injection system added to the 2005 and up makes this job much, much more difficult. There are now two air pumps mounted to the back of the coolant crossover line that seem to be impossible to remove, and right in the way. They are so in the way that you can't even get a socket squarely onto the 12mm bolt. I have been completely unable to place a socket at all on either of the 14mm bolts. There is just no room at all for hands or ratchets now between the engine and firewall. Here's a pic that clearly shows them between the coolant crossover line and the wiring harness. Also note the amount of crap now placed in the V.
I have not yet figured out how to do this- I was on my way to just lower the engine a couple inches but that looks to be much more difficult than I thought due to motor mount bolt access. The coolant crossover line can't be removed because it is mounted to the air pumps, which are attached to the outsides of each head via rigid metal air lines with inaccessible bolts. The wiring harness is impossible to remove with the number of connector disconnects required. With help, I ran 3' of extensions up from below but with the number of bends required I needed two U-joints, which just buckled when torque was applied.
I am tempted to throw in the towel, reassemble the intake, and take it to a shop. The joke will be on them, as the FSM instructions just say to remove the coolant crossover line like its no big deal. And before someone yells at me, I have since covered the intake ports. I took this picture the second I got the intake off.