Technical mk1 starter motor repair?

[MadMan0]

Hi all,
I'm wanting to repair the starter motor because the pinion gear is not always engaging, I think it's just the solenoid. Don't like replacing with second hand or cheap parts and OEM replacement is £97. So...

Does anyone have any tips for quick/easy removal of the starter motor and know what might be wrong with it? I was going to try to take it off and clean it up and replace with new grease...

 

[fingers99]

Never grease the pinion -- it attracts clutch debris and causes them to stick.

As to what's wrong with it, who can tell? Where are you going to get a new solenoid if that's what it is, etc.?

Your best bet is probably a scrappy. P55, P60, P75, Cinq Sporting or Sei Sporting. May well be others (Punto Mk2 8v?). They do seem to go on and on.

Disconnect battery, undo terminals, 3 bolrs and off it pops.

On eBay they're about £60 reconditioned. One from a scrappy should cost £20 -£25.

 

[blu73]

i'm using a mk2 punto 1.2 16v starter on my cinq, which has a p60 engine. So stands to reason you should be able to get one off a pretty new fiat 2nd hand if it makes you feel better about getting salvaged parts. I think off any FIRE family engines bar an abarth and tjet will fit and work.

Its £15 for a starter in my local yard, its so cheap why would you not do that... you prob spend more in parts to fix one and get angry with it and cut your fingers in the process.. Don't get me wrong, i love your i can fix this attitude, its highly commendable - just doesn't always weigh up right to fix things.

 

[fingers99]

Mind you, you could always keep the old one for parts..............

 

[Trevor]

Hi there, would you be intrested in a brand new starter? new old stock never fitted, if so make me a sensible offer please.

Regards Trevor.

 

[MadMan0]

Thanks for the replies.
Eurocarparts offer a new motor for £80 (ish) + 25% off every now and again; so buying new isn't soo bad.

The motor it's self spins fine, so it's just the pinon gear not engauging (intermitently); so I thought this would be... a sticking pin, dirt or a corrosion issue. Hence i thought taking it off and cleaning it may be enough... if removing it was easy enough to be done without removing anything else in the engine bay and without jacking the car up (become quite lazy during exam period)

 

[fingers99]

Unless your physique is more akin to a monkey, you've got to attack the starter motor from (mainly) underneath. Cleaning might help, but no grease, per piacere.

 

[blu73]

ramps, i love ramps - so easy for the diy'er.

on the lube front, agree totally - grease would be ba-a-a-ad. But would something like lock lube (the graphite stuff) not perhaps help? Surely they use something during manufacture?

 

[fingers99]

Probably OK. I'd be inclined to get it off, do a cheap and nasty clean with WD40, wipe that off, then use the graphite stuff. Or brake cleaner -- Netto often have it cheap -- would be better for cleaning.

 

[blu73]

i use endless brake cleaner, use it for just about everything lol. great stuff! I cleaned my gearbox casing with it the other day.

 

[s and b]

You should only use duck oil on the pinion
replacing the solenoid is a short term fix
if keeping car long term buy the euro one or take up the posters offer of new old stock if its kept in good dry conditions a