My starter finally packed up this week, after refusing to die for about 2 months. When it was switched it had been intermittently not throwing out to catch the flywheel, and eventually it just whirred away quite chirpily but that was about it. I took it off last Friday and loads of little bits fell out of the open end, including a few little pins and springs and twisted bits of metal. I chose to diagnose it as knackered, and I've ordered a replacement but I'm confused as to why it was so oily? I wouldn't expect stuff spinning around near my clutch etc to be oily or am I missing something here? There has been a drip around the bottom of the bell housing for a while which I am guessing now to be related.
Any ideas would be appreciated, before I take the plunge and have a go at getting inside for a look. May have to wait till after our new sprog pops out in next couple of weeks or I could be in trouble from the missus!
