Starter Motor

[ToshTerrano]

Hi guys my starter has gone capuut this morning, is this something i could do myself if i bought an off the shelf motor. I don't generally do much vehicle work and am wondering if i'd be out of my depth with this. It is def the starter before anyone asks.
I found a walk through on youtube describing the steps and how to go through the wheel arch etc.
Has anyone done their own and can give some do don't advice. :nenau

Its an 03 2.7

 

[solarman216]

Top starter bolt is the worst, fiddly to get to, jack the motor up (plus axle stand) and remove the wheel makes it a bit easier, but quite doable, Rick

 

[Banshee]

I hope you're a contortionist :naughty

 

[Banshee]

A 2" body lift also helps significantly with removal :naughty :sly

 

[macabethiel]

Anyone is asking ?

Hi guys my starter has gone capuut this morning, is this something i could do myself if i bought an off the shelf motor. I don't generally do much vehicle work and am wondering if i'd be out of my depth with this. It is def the starter before anyone asks.
I found a walk through on youtube describing the steps and how to go through the wheel arch etc.
Has anyone done their own and can give some do don't advice. :nenau

Its an 03 2.7

My name is "Anyone" if you are asking how difficult a job it is why are you so confident it is the starter motor ? If you have that level of confidence do you need to really ask how to do a relatively simple task for a multi-jointed humanoids ?

I have not had a starter motor failure on any of my 25-30 or so various vehicles I have owned since the 1960's it has invariably been the wiring , solenoid, ring gear or ignition switch.

P.S. Don't forget to disconnect the battery before you start !!

Please don't shoot the Questioner.lol

 

[ToshTerrano]

Your name is arrogant arse, i'll fix the starter myself with my limited knowledge of vehicle mechanics Thanks to the other guys for sensible un patronising advice, thankfully not everyone that uses the forum has the kind of opinion that Mr Anyone has.

 

[clivvy]

hey Tosh,

yeah its perfectly doable mate, its not hard, just very fiddly, so please prepare your best swears because your going to need them! As Rick says, jack it up, drivers side wheel off, remove wheel arch liner. First off, do the top bolt, either through the arch or through the top of the engine, that's easy enough. Then do the bottom bolt which is fiddly, so get your various sockets and adapters at the ready and take it steady NOT to hit any of the brake pipes you will find in your way.

once free and hanging loose heres clivs tip - get yourself some bungie ropes or similar, tie it to the solenoid part of the starter (I'm assuming you've disconnected your car battery and the clamp and wire from the starter already) and get that rope up to the bonnet, and stretch it so the rope has hold of the starter. Now the tricky part is getting the starter up out of the engine bay IF you cant get it through the wheel arch.

With the rope attached, I found infinitely easier to then manoeuvre the starter up and around the various wires, pipes and tubes - you may need to undo a few but nothing needs to come out - its tight, but the starter will come out lengthways out of that tiny gap.

Once out, celebrate with a gloating selfie and a cup of tea. Fit the new starter as reverse, use the rope as you may well drop the starter and hit a sensor or something.

good luck bud :thumbs

 

[briggie]

Your name is arrogant arse, i'll fix the starter myself with my limited knowledge of vehicle mechanics Thanks to the other guys for sensible un patronising advice, thankfully not everyone that uses the forum has the kind of opinion that Mr Anyone has.

no need to be abusive my friend , good luck in your fix :thumb2

 

[macabethiel]

Wow someone is a little sensitive !!

Your name is arrogant arse, i'll fix the starter myself with my limited knowledge of vehicle mechanics Thanks to the other guys for sensible un patronising advice, thankfully not everyone that uses the forum has the kind of opinion that Mr Anyone has.

Well Mr Wordsmith you could have just stated how you know it's the Starter Motor for sure but I guess some people just can't take being challenged as to how they reach a conclusion even in polite way as I did without feeling undermined.

Perhaps you can't see humour when its typed without an expletive.

Mr Anyone not

 

[firebobby]

Well Mr Wordsmith you could have just stated how you know it's the Starter Motor for sure but I guess some people just can't take being challenged as to how they reach a conclusion even in polite way as I did without feeling undermined.

Perhaps you can't see humour when its typed without an expletive.

Mr Anyone not

:clap:clap
Always good when a newbie gets off on the wrong foot :doh

 

[jims-terrano]

The bloke aint a newbie, he just misunderstood some humour that's all, easy done.

Tosh, hope you've got the starter motor sorted. I have a similar problem at the moment, trouble is can be a few problems so gotta eliminate the known faults. I'm lucky as I have two trucks at the moment so first job at the weekend is to change batteries over. Also need to check battery terminals before I can narrow mine down to starter motor. Let me know how you get on cos I don't fancy that top bolt much.

 

[firebobby]

The bloke aint a newbie, he just misunderstood some humour that's all, easy done.

Wow your right Jim, my mistake. :doh

 

[ToshTerrano]

That top bolt is murder to get at. After a lot of looking in through the wheel arch and wondering how the hell I'm going to get this loose, I think the bottom bolt may have sheered. Not 100% on that and wont know until I get top bolt loose but the bolt head is hard up against the flange of the starter, as it would be if it was tightly screwed in yet I am sure I can see the ragged thread end of the bolt. Now these bolts must screw in a fair bit I guess and even if the starter motor was manipulated back to where it should sit, then the bolt would only catch the first thread in the housing. If you know what I mean. As I said I wont know until I have the top bolt is out and the motor out so I can inspect any damage that might have been done over time.
And to add to all that my calliper looks goosed as the inside pads have worn right down to the metal and been rubbing into the inside disc. Might be salvageable with a wire brush and copper grease but not holding out much hope. I fitted a recon one to the other side at the beginning of the year. Should have done both.
Ah every day's a school day.
Might be a bit tricky to get a sheered bolt out. Borrowed a 14mm ratchet spanner from our works engineer, might need his burning gear also.

 

[jims-terrano]

Brave man but fair play to you getting stuck in:thumbs

At least you've now got experience with the caliper:clap I had to replace both on my project truck.

Good luck and let us know how you get on, the odd photo would be good too.

 

[firebobby]

Not had any dealings with the starter although Ryan (distant member) once had his leg well pulled about fitting his backwards and the possibility of the engine starting in reverse:lol:lol. The calipers are pretty easy to work on. I did mine when I fitted new discs, the sliders are normally the issue with them, Good luck with the job. :thumb2

 

[solarman216]

That top bolt is murder to get at. After a lot of looking in through the wheel arch and wondering how the hell I'm going to get this loose, I think the bottom bolt may have sheered. Not 100% on that and wont know until I get top bolt loose but the bolt head is hard up against the flange of the starter, as it would be if it was tightly screwed in yet I am sure I can see the ragged thread end of the bolt. Now these bolts must screw in a fair bit I guess and even if the starter motor was manipulated back to where it should sit, then the bolt would only catch the first thread in the housing. If you know what I mean. As I said I wont know until I have the top bolt is out and the motor out so I can inspect any damage that might have been done over time.
And to add to all that my calliper looks goosed as the inside pads have worn right down to the metal and been rubbing into the inside disc. Might be salvageable with a wire brush and copper grease but not holding out much hope. I fitted a recon one to the other side at the beginning of the year. Should have done both.
Ah every day's a school day.
Might be a bit tricky to get a sheered bolt out. Borrowed a 14mm ratchet spanner from our works engineer, might need his burning gear also.

sounds like you are having to deal with previous owners fuxx up, always a problem best of luck, I can have the starter out on my off roader in about 15 mins, it has to come out regular as the mud kills it, I did a starter refurb on here a while ago, have a search, Rick

 

[TOSKA]

My T2 seems to like starters, just fitted another one !

I did mine from above ( not through the arch ) very fiddly & starter will only come out through pipes & etc ONE WAY !!! ( remember this for re fit ! )

used a universal knuckle joint on the ratchet extension arm to get at the top bolt. worked OK

note this bit !!

with some aftermarket starters that i have had the rear end of the starter motor housing clashes with the fuel pipe at the rear of the fuel pump.

these starters fit, but can rub the pipe away.

i have found that MILNERS supplied starters have a "round" end and do not clash with the pipe.

the differnce in price is about 10 quid and well worth it for the hassle it causes.
GOOD LUCK


TOSKA

 

[jims-terrano]

Great tip Toska:thumb2