starter motor.

[andyg176]

The starter on my mav has packed up. The workshop manual goes into great detail on how to repair it BUT not how to get it out. I've dropped the offside wheel and removed the weatherscreen, and it's taken a couple of hours just to get the power cable off. I currently don't have the right sort of 14mm spanner for the bottom bolt. Now the big questionsm how do you get to the top bolt and the real biggy, HOW THE HELL do you get the starter out?

 

[solarman216]

I guess this is a TD not a TDi, yes they can be a bit difficult, longest it has taken me is about an hour cos the top bolt was tight all the way, however a combination spanner (ring one end slightly cranked & open ended the other) sorts the bottom bolt and very often will crack the top bolt then a quarter drive socket with extensions to get the ratchet to a workable place, usually around 6 to 8 inches long, I usually modify the dipstick tube a little to get better alignment, bit of brute force here only needs 10mm or so, then yes a bit of fiddling and it comes out the top, best to remove a couple of the cable anchor points to the manifold, makes it easier to move the stiff cables, some have come out into the wheel arch but depends on the brake pipe configuration as there are differences, some I have reformed the pipes a little others there is no way without possibly doing damage, Rick

 

[Sweety]

Never had to replace a starter on one of these yet & hopefully won't have to:augie but from what i've read on hear the starter comes out via the wheel arch after some good old wiggling of the starter. Others who have done this job will be along with much better details on the job:thumb2

 

[clivvy]

done these twice now, Ricks right with the method.

I bought a very long 72 tooth ring spanner for mine, to do the top bolt. Godsend. Just pop it down by the dip stick and bash the bolt right off, and because space is limited, the 72 tooth spanner allows for small movements to get it going, then I used a socket set and various flexible extensions to finish it off. Its tricky, and slow, but not difficult.

Removal of the starter is the hard part. Both times I have done it is through the top, not through the wheel arch. You literally have to manoeuvre it so the power cable end is pointing up, then stick a bungee cable on it, fix that to the bonnet so that its hanging, then you can use both hands from below through the arch to push it up, rest it at the top next to the dip stick, then wiggle it out from the top - believe me its not as bad as it sounds if you use the bungee cord to hold it in place (so you don't drop it)

I believe the TDI is more of a pain due to some extra pipe work I think (abs??) at the bottom, so you can get it out of the arch without undoing the brake pipes.

 

[jonela]

I guess this is a TD not a TDi, yes they can be a bit difficult, longest it has taken me is about an hour cos the top bolt was tight all the way, however a combination spanner (ring one end slightly cranked & open ended the other) sorts the bottom bolt and very often will crack the top bolt then a quarter drive socket with extensions to get the ratchet to a workable place, usually around 6 to 8 inches long, I usually modify the dipstick tube a little to get better alignment, bit of brute force here only needs 10mm or so, then yes a bit of fiddling and it comes out the top, best to remove a couple of the cable anchor points to the manifold, makes it easier to move the stiff cables, some have come out into the wheel arch but depends on the brake pipe configuration as there are differences, some I have reformed the pipes a little others there is no way without possibly doing damage, Rick

I Know when you did mine over here you had it out in about 15min and back in in about 20min. It surprised me how quick it came out through the wheel arch,The ring gear thing on mine is getting worse by the way, I'm not sure if it always throws out far enough,could it be a dodgy solenoid ?
'

 

[solarman216]

I Know when you did mine over here you had it out in about 15min and back in in about 20min. It surprised me how quick it came out through the wheel arch,The ring gear thing on mine is getting worse by the way, I'm not sure if it always throws out far enough,could it be a dodgy solenoid ?
'

I can confirm that the other style of starter (with the nacelle) does both models, Rick

 

[andyg176]

Thanks everybody, got it out and replacement back in last night. The trick seems to be to go in through the wheel arch and lift out/ pull up from the top. The right spanners help, I use metrinch but they're no good in restricted areas.