Noisy starter motor

[James45LW]

I'm back in the wilds of North Wales over xmas and my 4.5 is suffering from not being garaged. When firing up the starter motor makes a sort of metal-on-metal grinding sound for about a second before the engine fires (still fires the yellow monster into life first time though). Just seeking re-assurance that there's nothing too wrong - is there anything I should do now?
Cheers in advance.

[_DJ_]

See www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=55379&f=6&h=0&hw=starter+motor+noise. Looks like a recon unit will be required eventually I'm afriad. I'm not sure how long it will take to fail, but it might be worth changing it now to save you the hassle of getting stranded....

DJ

[James45LW]

Gulp....If it's not too cold overnight it doesn't do it - thought it might be a tightly toleranced part contracting in the cold (did I hear someone say something about straws and clutching!)

[RUSSELLM]

Is there any chance the battery could be on it's way out ? I have had a recent battery change & it seems to have cured a multitude of niggles. Turns over faster, windows now going up to the top, when I had a few electrics on, heater, rear screen etc. the rev counter wouldn't register on tick over, now cured.
Just a thought

[Julian64]

RusselM. Just a slight worry. Even with a Cerb on tickover, the charge from the alternator should be enough to keep your electrics at 12V even with a pretty poor battery.

Are you sure your alternator isn't the reason your last battery died?

[RUSSELLM]

Hi julian,to avoid hijacking I've gone to a new topic, sorry I can't help with the starter motor James, MERRY CRIMBO.

[James45LW]

Can anyone tell me how to get at the starter motor then? Whereabouts is it and what sort of a job is it to remove it. Cheers

[madaboutmotors]

Hi there,

do a search for starter motor on the forum and look at "removing starter motor" article.

My starter motor was doing exactly the same thing... on closer inspection the motor had shaken itself apart, all the bolts holding together were loose.

In the end got a new motor from AutoBits in Farnham, after sending the old one for reconditioning... (www.autobits.com/)

madaboutmotors

[simond001]

Quick advert (for someone else).

If you need a starter motor Curds of Tunbridge Wells normally has a few (new ones) in stock. He normally sells them at prices similar to recon.
01892 542680 speak to Tim