Where is starter on 2003 Mazda Protege?

The starter on a 2003 Mazda Protege is located on the driver's side of the engine, near the bottom of the engine block, close to the transmission. To access it, you typically need to lift the vehicle and may need to remove some components like the air intake or exhaust heat shield for better visibility and access. It's connected by two bolts and has electrical connections that need to be disconnected before removal.