could someone help me locate the upper starter motor bolt. I have removed the battery box , ecu and cables but I just can't find out where it is and have spent close to an hour looking for it. Would anyone have a blow up view of that area of the engine /gearbox assembly or even be able to tell me what kind of bolt it is - allen head or regular bolt.

many thanks

finding the bolt is a little tricky as you can't see it as its round the back of the engine just out of sight and as Fiat chose to set the bolt flush with the engine casing its very difficult to feel, we used a small mirror to locate the bolt (this was the most time consuming part believe it or not) once the bolt was located it was a very quick job to remove the starter motor (it must be the smallest starter motor I've ever seen on a car).

hope this helps

thanks - would you know if it is a allen head or regular bolt I need to look for.
many thanks

To the best of my recollection it's an allen key bolt, and it's just recessed in the clutch/flywheel casing, I originally said flush with the casing but thinking about it recessed is a more accurate description.

thanks - that's great, I'll have another crack at it in the emorning

Just to make a final point, my friend(who is an experienced Bentley mechanic) and myself really struggled to find this bolt without the aid of a small mirror so if you can get your hands on one I'm sure it will help.

hope you get it sorted I know how frustrating it is not to be able to find that bolt..

:bang:

at last managed to get the bolt. for reference for anyone else replacing the starter - the top bolt is located below the main battery wire. If I was doing it again I would drain the coolant and remove the black metal coolant pipe as it really gets in the way.

Hi

I need to change the starter on my MJ. Found this thread which is very useful but can I clarify. I have been under the car and can see the bottom bolt. Does the other bolt go through from the same side or does it come through from the other side.

From which direction is the photo taken?

Any help would be appreciated.

THank

Rob

Also any good sites to get a starter from?

Thanks again.

The top bolt comes in from the clutch housing side (opposite direction to the bottom bolt ) its at the top of the clutch housing, you have to remove the battery and the ecu to get at it.

The photograph is taken from the battery end of the engine bay.

I got my starter motor from here

http://www.startermotor-alternator-store.co.uk/

Thanks.

Am I right in thinking once I undo these 2 bolts I undo the nut holding the large red wire and the starter will come out? Is there a wire to the solenoid as I can not see it from under the car.

Thanks

Both wires are on the same post separated by a plastic "thingy."

You need to disconnect the battery and remove the wires to the starter motor before you undo the 2 bolts that hold the starter.

Good luck

Thanks. Sounds straight forward once you get to the top bolt.

May have a look at the EGR while down there!

Rob

Hi

Thanks for the mirror and torch tip!! Changed the starter and without this it would have taken all day. Took about an hour from start to finish and this included modifying the connection slightly as the new start had a slightly different layout. The small wire that has a loon on the end that gets clamped down by the plastic cover was on it's own threaded contact on the new starter. Much better design in my opinion.

The only thing I would add for others is when you have undone the top bolt leave the bolt, torq socket and extensions in place. Get someone to hold the new starter in place and then tighten the bolt up. We did this and it made it so easy. I dread to think how you would get the bolt back in if you took it all the way out!

Thanks
Rob

replaced my MJ Sporing starter last night and found this picture most usefull.





I did not get to se the bolt head at all throughout the process, just did it by feel... not that you can touch the bolt head directley either, but feel through the tool

The bottom bolt was a torx T45 star, guessed that the top was the same. the tool did the job up top but took a lot longer than an hour.

duxster said:

The only thing I would add for others is when you have undone the top bolt leave the bolt, torq socket and extensions in place. Get someone to hold the new starter in place and then tighten the bolt up. We did this and it made it so easy. I dread to think how you would get the bolt back in if you took it all the way out!

Thanks
Rob

Click to expand...

Top tip. I'm one for removing the bolt and seeing, would never of thought of leaving it in place. didn't get anyone to hold it in place so quite an effort to get it back on to say the least.

the battery and low current wires got in the way of the top bolt when trying to fit new motor.

I know this is an old thread but I thought I'd add a video on how I did it.

I just undertook this job on my 2006 multijet 4x4.
It seems like I'm missing the bottom bolt, there is just the hole for the bolt.
I figured it would be the same as the top bolt, which I've located but I can't see what the head is.

Is it an Allen key or a Torx?
If I know what the head is, I can hopefully get to it.

Grateful for any help.

There normally a standard bolt

The go in from opposite sides as per the photo




The are both the same part

Are you sure your looking at the right place

The bottom bolt is right above to the stud and nut on the gearbox

There's 2 bolts but some starters have 3 holes, one is for the dowl pin

This one should be empty

Yes, I am at the right spot, and the hole is empty.

I can just barely see the upper bolt in a small space between all the stuff, but I think it looks like it's recessed like an
Allen key, but I might be wrong. So darn hard to see. I will check again tomorrow and try with a 13 mm socket to see if it's an m8.

I've seen both torx m45 and Allen key suggested. Of course, it could've been changed through the years.

Thanks for your input koalar!