Hi
I stopped on the way home yesterday and when I tried to restart, I got a sad sounding , half-hearted attempt at spinning the motor but no go. A few more goes then nothing at all. There's power in the battery, all the lights work. She started with a quick push but was the same when I got home. I left it on charge in case but the same today.
Where should I be looking, starter handle, starter motor or just look for beer in my local? Also, is there easy access to the starter motor from the back seat, will it be easier on ramps or is is easy enough leaning in the engine compartment. If it is the starter motor, are they easy enough to get overhauled?
Thanks
Tony

I had a similar situation. Drove my car a mile down the road to a store and got back in to start it and nada. It never game me any indication it was on the way out. I had my daughter pull the starter cable while I peered into the engine compartment. Nothing would turn, but the power wire to the starter smoked a bit.

Good news is that you can get it out in situ. There is no access to the engine from the back seat. I priced the parts I needed and it was just cheaper to buy a reconditioned one from Van der Laan in the Netherlands. Someone else may have had better luck as I am in the US.

Having just gone through this and not being that mechanically experienced, i can say it's not too difficult to remove the starter and replace the brushes.
My starter had similar symptoms to yours and it was a simple case of the brushes being worn down to the point that they no longer made contact. New brushes are cheap and easy to install. Getting the starter out was quite simple but you have to do a lot of it by feel. If it's later than a D then it's 3 nuts, a cable held on with a split pin and a power cable held on with a nut. Putting it back is the reverse but getting the cable on is a challenge. I asked for advice here and got the job done in the end with the advice provided. The key when reattaching the cable and inserting the split pin was to get the car up on stands and slide underneath. This way gives a better view but it is tight. In the end i got the pin in from above but being able to have a good look from below was vital. That was my experience anyway.

The starter is not difficult to remove/refit on all models--just a bit fiddly. What we all seem to forget at times is that these cars were designed to be worked on in barns and back-street garages. You will find it a lot easier to get at things by first removing the engine cover---makes it much easier for you to lean over the engine. Don't forget to disconnect the battery prior to working on the starter.

the hobbler said:

The starter is not difficult to remove/refit on all models--just a bit fiddly. What we all seem to forget at times is that these cars were designed to be worked on in barns and back-street garages. You will find it a lot easier to get at things by first removing the engine cover---makes it much easier for you to lean over the engine. Don't forget to disconnect the battery prior to working on the starter.

Click to expand...

You are right of course but don't forget many of us are doing this for the first time.
I'd say once you've done it once then it'll be easier the next time. But for a first timer like myself, viewing the lever and cable from underneath made all the difference. Trying to do it from above, blind, felt impossible for the hour I fiddled away. Once I had a good look and fiddle from underneath it was about 5 minutes from above to complete.

Luckily, I've got a barn!