Past couple of mornings car wont start, can hear it ticking over, radio works etc.

Ive opened the bonnet, tapped the starter motor and its started straight away.

Anyone know if there is a fix or do I need a new starter motor?

If so are they easy to fit!!

Dunno what I'd do without this site!

it needs new brushes. but they are very cheap new in a box. not worth it unless you have a spare one lying around

Brushes?? Where are they on the car

you should check the wire loom, this happened to me 2 months back, the starter motor wouldnt start unless you tapped it or rocked it, i changed starter motor (£100) fitted it, still wouldnt start, it was only after the recovery machanic spent a few hours retracing the wireing loom from the ignition barrel to the ECU that he found the wires had rubbed through the outer wire and was touching other copper wires, shorting the whole system, he repaired that and all is good now.

Ryan

i just changed mine yesterday, same symptoms i found that it wasnt engagind onto the flywheel unless knocked, went a scrappy got one for a tenner and fitted it took about a hour. fiddly but doable. only tools needed are a 13mm socket and a 10mm socket.

works a treat now, even took my old one back to them and they gave me 5 quid back.

The brushes are inside the starter motor, when you smack the starter you are making the worn brushes make contact with the comutator(bit that turns).

Taking the motor to bits can be done, but its a Pfaff, and they aren't too dear to buy, just buy a recon.

Cheers

SPD

Normally the motor will have grit and gum in it so a big dose of WD40 might keep you going for a few more days, without needing a hammer, WD40 will dissolve most things.

Noel

a big dose of wd in a starter that has shorting out brushes could mean a big bang and bye bye car lol