Chimera Starter Motor removal
Chimera Starter Motor removal
Author
Discussion

Chrimsontide

Original Poster:

26 posts

229 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
So my TVR has been hiding in the garage for 18 months (I know don't hate, work abroad and circumstances forced the issue ) and bypassing any hope of recharging, I have bought a new battery.

I took sparks out and injected some Redex as per the Bible after long lay ups. However on trying to turn it over all I get from the starter motor is a faint clunk, no louder than tapping a finger on the desk. Once the key is turned back I can hear a chatter noise to what sounds like the solenoid disengaging. The Fuel pump primes. Lights dim when key is turned, relays sound like they are working. Tried banging the unit in case of a jam and bumping under dashboard on the passenger side for the Immobiliser trick.

So it would seem that it's the motor but after searching the forums and not finding any evidence my actual question is has anyone managed to remove their starter motor at home.?

Lots of people just say ` they changed it ' and it fired up without saying if they or someone else did it. To me it looks like you can access the hex lower bolt from below but the solenoid seems to block any path to the top one from underneath and the manifold is in the way from the top.

Can it be done ? Any thoughts or suggestions.

PRTVR

8,135 posts

247 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
Are you trying to turn it over with the plugs in? If so might be worth pulling the fuel relay and removing the plugs to see if it will turn over without compression, this will also help to get some oil round the system before you start it.

Pink_Floyd

900 posts

247 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
I did mine at home, ran it up on car ramps, undid the battery and then undid the starter motor from under the car. Don't remember it being that difficult to do. Mine is a serp so that may be different.

ChimpofDarkness

9,637 posts

205 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
Can it be done?

Yes of course it can.

Disconnect the battery first, & remove the wires from the starter & solenoid.

You just need an allen bit on an extension & go in from just above the starter.

Feel the allen bit but into the cap head bolt by hand, then connect your ratchet to undo the top bolt.

With the top bolt removed you can tackle the easier bottom bolt while supporting the weight of the starter in your hand.

Simples.

Chrimsontide

Original Poster:

26 posts

229 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
Ok Thanks, the bible says it can but a quick obeservation said it might be awkward and didn't want to begin with some proper experience from here.

As for the other posts, sparks are not in and yes was planning to turn it over before replacing them to get some oil around before starting.

But I can't get that done until the starter is looked at , if it works on the bench it's one down in the hunt.

So at the moment I am like a kid with no toys on Christmas morning frown

ChimpofDarkness

9,637 posts

205 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
Jack & support the car.

Get under it lying on your back, look up & follow my instructions.

Easy.

If your trying to remove the starter from above you'll remain frustrated.

Chrimsontide

Original Poster:

26 posts

229 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
Yea it's up at the moment thanks and supported on stands I am under it ( not right now of course ) but I need it higher to gain full access and my garage is not exactly spacial so I might have to tunnel in from the lounge laugh

ChimpofDarkness

9,637 posts

205 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
Good luck with it.

Think back to your school disco days.

It's all in the feel.

Chrimsontide

Original Poster:

26 posts

229 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
Useful reading stay safe.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg434.pdf

Engineer1949

1,423 posts

170 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Before you go taking the starter out make sure the engine turns what worries me slightly is the fact the lights dim when you try the starter which indicates that a heavy load is being pulled could well be a siezed starter but very rare.


John

phazed

22,457 posts

230 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Sounds like a flat battery to me.

If you cant get a car near to jump start it, use 2 pairs of jump leads.

Pink_Floyd

900 posts

247 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
You can see the top bolt above the solonoid.

peaktorque

1,807 posts

237 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
phazed said:
Sounds like a flat battery to me.

If you cant get a car near to jump start it, use 2 pairs of jump leads.
yes

PRTVR

8,135 posts

247 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
phazed said:
Sounds like a flat battery to me.

If you cant get a car near to jump start it, use 2 pairs of jump leads.
Or a bad connection on the battery,
is there an in line fuse that might have been disturbed during the fitting of the new battery?

Chrimsontide

Original Poster:

26 posts

229 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Thanks guys and in response : Battery was brand new and is fully charged and is 640 ccA.

Took the starter motor out anyway was not too hard after all tested it on the bench and it was fine. Cleaned it, and all the terminals and wrapped in heat resistant fibre glass so at least I know that part would be good and added a running fix too. Turned the engine over with a socket on the lower pulley while it was out and no problems there.

Put Starter motor back in and nothing same as before.

So now testing relays , checking fuses. All the relays in the board are differently numbered from the ones quoted in the Bible so a PO must have replaced them at some point. The Ignition relay I have is R6FO ? Doing a test later on it to see if its working.

Standard process of elimination I suppose.

Chrimsontide

Original Poster:

26 posts

229 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
One heat wrapped Starter Motor.


miniman

29,670 posts

288 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Chrimsontide said:
Thanks guys and in response : Battery was brand new and is fully charged and is 640 ccA.

Took the starter motor out anyway was not too hard after all tested it on the bench and it was fine. Cleaned it, and all the terminals and wrapped in heat resistant fibre glass so at least I know that part would be good and added a running fix too. Turned the engine over with a socket on the lower pulley while it was out and no problems there.

Put Starter motor back in and nothing same as before.

So now testing relays , checking fuses. All the relays in the board are differently numbered from the ones quoted in the Bible so a PO must have replaced them at some point. The Ignition relay I have is R6FO ? Doing a test later on it to see if its working.

Standard process of elimination I suppose.
You don't seem to have eliminated the simplest thing to check - that you haven't bought a duff battery. The symptoms you describe are precisely those of a failing battery. Get it on some meaty jump leads or a big boost pack.

Steve_D

13,801 posts

284 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
We recently had a dead battery delivered from the local factors so it can happen.

Did you try and fire the starter using a test wire on the solenoid after fitting it back onto the engine. If you do it will show if the fault is in the heavy duty side of things or in the ignition/immobiliser/relay/fuse etc.

Steve

Chrimsontide

Original Poster:

26 posts

229 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Relay seems ok , tried negative jump lead onto the engine and no power anywhere, will try jumping tommorow from my Jeep need to eliminate the Dud battery scenario before I progress , but need some more leads to reach so I will be off on the blag.!!

All good fun

ButtonIt

385 posts

204 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
I got a set of jump leads for a lorry. Very heavy duty and bloody long, I can get from the passenger footwell to any vehicle parked in front or behind.