I need to replace the starter motor on my Multipla JTD. The wire between the solenoid and motor is burnt out!

Can anybody give me advice on how best to remove the starter.

From memory, if you remove the battery tray (which is a fiddly job in itself)you can get to quite a bit of the gearbox. Will this get me to the starter motor? Or is it a case of getting at it from underneath - this looks quite awkard.

I have a garage and axle stands, so if from underneath I will be laid on my back.

Any advice will be much appreciated.

Easy enough from underneath
If you have super long thin arms lol
Three bolts need removing
It's a pig of a job
Best of luck

Have look on here about 2/3 of the way down page 5
https://www.fiatforum.com/multipla/345166-multipla-jtd-1-9-clutch-replacement-progress-5.html

Ben skinner said:

. . . It's a pig of a job . . .

Click to expand...

I disagree, I've done it about six times now on my original and current Multis,(long story), and I find it OK.

You need a 13mm bi-hex (12 point) socket, and a good selection of extension lengths, as you need to find the ideal length to put your ratchet handle in an 'open' space between all the bits that get in the way.
I may have been lucky, but all three bolts on mine have been loose enough to wind out by hand once they've been 'cracked' with the ratchet.
I also use 1/4 drive stuff, with a nice short-handled ratchet, once I've loosened it with a 3/8 drive set.

The upper-forward bolt is a 'by feel/touch only' item, but once you've found it it's no problem, as long as you have the right length of extension, as mentioned above.

This is from underneath by the way, and you needn't remove any other parts.

In my case no bolt would come out by hand once cracked and had to be fully undone with the ratchet
Which is why I didn't like doing it
Guess I'm just unlucky

Spot on, thanks for the advice........got her out just as you described but what a pig of a job to reach those top bolts! Luckily I am 6'2" and have arms like an orangutang (just not as hairy. Not looking forward to fitting her this afternoon.

Will I need someone to wiggle the wheels to locate the starter into the flywheel?

Thanks guys.

Well that was much easier than I expected! Replacement starter motor (£30 off ebay), all fitted and car back on it's wheels within about an hour.

Definitely easier with two pairs of hands. I located the socket and ratchet onto each of the top mounting bolts from the top, whilst employing my 11 year old to twiddle the ratchet handle from underneath. Worked a dream. £10 child labour well spent and he might have learned something in the process.

Car starts like a new'un. Well Happy!

Job well done by the sounds of it . What failed on the old one?