Starter motor problem

[TheBeaver]

My petrol 2.1 '86 has a problem with the starter motor. It began with the starter just not responding when I turned the key. While looking at it one night a guy came by while I was looking at it and suggested that I try and short it at the starter motor to see if it was at least getting power and take it from there. He noted that from his experience they can corrode a bit at the contacts. I shorted it, it sparked, and it started after. This happened once more after before I took the time to get underneath it with a socket and played a bit with where the wires go into the starter. I assumed that this was what he meant with 'contacts' but now that I am writing this I realise that he may have meant the contacts inside the motor. I thought what I did helped as the problem went away for a while but it is back now with avengance and I now have to push it started, the trick of shorting the starter no longer works.

Any suggestions? New starter motor? Can you get them reconditioned? Right now things are going one step forward and two back

Cheers

Angus

[R0B]

Sounds like a lazy starter.Its usually down to a faulty solenoid.You can get them refurbished,but might be worth checking out ECPs they have usually got a good discount if ordered online and collected from your local depot.
The discount code is "Weekend60"

[TheBeaver]

ok, so we aren't looking at a whole new starter? can I change the solenoid without pulling the whole starter out?

[R0B]

As i said it sounds like the solenoid but it might be the starter itself.I have never changed a solenoid so how easy it would be to do,i don't know..

[TheBeaver]

Yeah, with the work involved it might be easier to pop a new one in and leave it at that... Thanks!!

[fazzer]

I had same problem with my starter,I took it out replaced it for £78 of eBay ain't worth the hassle,I also replaced the brass bush inside the started housing at the same time.