hey guys.. i have been having problems with the starter motor for a little while, sometimes i can just hear the starter motor clicking sometimes nothing happens but this is usually solved by giving the wire going to the starter motor a wiggle. but today it has officially died. so what i want to know is does anybody know the easiest way to get to the starter motor as i can't reach it properly.. i have tried taking off the airbox and taking out the battery and battery tray so i have more room but i still can't gain proper access to it.. anybody have any ideas? thanks

I've just replaced mine working only from above , with the help of a small mirror and torch to help see the terminals , the fiddliest bit is refitting the "anti-hotwire" piece of plastic to/around the wires . To re-fit the new one I first wrapped some thick string round the solenoid so I could work at fingertip's reach without worrying about dropping the new starter down on the deck. Hope this helps ..

thanks buddy. it's so awkward.. you'd think with so much space in the engine they could of atleast made things with more space between them ha

Are you sure its the motor and not just the cable connector that's loose? Check the crimp and the mounting nut/bolt.

It might be easier from below - certainly is with the HGT.

The anti hotwire plastic is a bit pointless - without the correct ignition key there wont be any fuel to the injectors.

SM is quite accessible from below - a cheapish pair of ramps will do the trick. As for the "anti-hotwire" plastic - isn't it really just good old-fashioned insulation? You could get some serious current flowing if anything shorted out round there (probably 1000 amps or more if the battery is in good nick).

red

really easy to replace starter on MK2, look on the gearbox on the top and in the middle there is a 13mm bolt securing 1 half of it and just off to the right behind the gearbox under the plugs ect... there is another 13mm bolt undo that and pull the started motor out. it can be done faily easily from the top as long as the battery tray and the air box is off. i've just recently finished doing a clutch and gearbox change on mine and i had to undo the starter motor.

thanks for all the advice guys turns out it was just a loose wire to the starter motor