Swapping Starter Motor over this weekend. Any tips?

[infrasilver]

My Starter has been playing up most of the Winter and this weekend I am finally going to replace with a new one.

Does anyone have any tips of the quickest way or any problems I might come across whilst changing it.

I think it is located on the near side of the engine but I am not 100% sure.

[paulyd65]

Helped my mechanic out when I swopped mine over and it is a bit of a pig of a job. Very tight for space so be prepared for skinned knuckles. Only suggestion I would make is see if you can get access to either a ramp or car lift so have to proper access. If you are intending to crawl under the car on a couple of the small ramps then I fear you might struggle.

Once you do it though, you won't have any problems with starting.

Good luck!!

[paulyd65]

Forgot to mention its on the drivers side and also has the solenoid attached to it.

[infrasilver]

I was expecting it to be tight for space as everything is in this engine bay. I did my engine mount last year and that took about an hour. So I hope a couple of hours for the starter should see it done.
I will be getting the car up on axle stands, I have got a 4X4 trolly jack so I can get some good height on the car. Skinned knuckles go without saying.

Thanks for the insight, at least I know which side of the engine its on.

[infrasilver]

Unless you have access to a lot of various sized and length spanners and sockets I would not attempt doing this job. Luckily I have an extensive range of tools.

It took me about 3.5 hours to get it done. It took about an hour of that to get the old one out and new one back in due to there being very limited space to maneuver the starter around near the engine mounts. There is a hole designed into the engine mount bracket that allows about 1mm space to remove it and the new one had a slightly longer 12v stud which needed a hammer and bit of wood to get it past the bell housing.

At least I saved £175 doing it myself as this is what I was quoted labour to get it done.

[paulyd65]

Told ya! Well done that man. Patience of a saint I would assume. Hows the knuckles?