How to fit a starter motor????

shelene

Hi,

i have a N reg Renault Megane and had the AA out this morning as it wouldnt start and the engine was smelling. Informed it was the starter motor which has 'burned out' and affected the battery as it is drained.

Does anyone know step by step instructions to fit a new one if i manage to get one today?? ( this is the cheapest possible option)

What tools are needed to do it? Able to do it with a jack and other normal tools???

Or is it definately a mechanic job???

Thanks in advance:D

Keith

Should be normal tools, grab a Haynes manual and you'll save on this job and others in the future.

Homersimpson

When you have replaced the motor take care that its not a faulty ignition switch causing the motor to engage when you are driving along. It's unusal but it happened on my dads car (mondeo) and after changing the motor i found that sometimes the car would crank itself over with me out of the car. A new ignition switch sorted it.

molerat

Get a Haynes. No you cannot do it with an ordinary jack if you have to get under the car, you will need axle stands (not strictly true but a tonne of car will hurt your chest !!). Don't forget to disconnect the battery. That thick cable going to the motor will make some big sparks.

Rolandtheroadie

As said, do not go under an unsupported car. Believe any i've done is 3 bolts. 2 easy to reach and one nearly impossible to get to, then cables.
Achievable if your keen. Normally a ratchet, the correct socket, perhaps an extension bar and a spanner or 2 of the required size. You'd get by with the spanner or 2 but it may take longer.
Check access from above before crawling under (perhaps something easily removed up top will give better access, even for an arm or hand to get down to it).
Could you get a loan of or buy a set of ramps? it would make access from underneath easier and (hopefully)safer. chock the wheels as well though.
Good luck!

SailorSam

You can usually borrow Haynes manuals in the library if you don't want to buy, but if you're going to start doing your own work they're well worth the money.

pogofish

scotsman4th wrote: »

As said, do not go under an unsupported car. Believe any i've done is 3 bolts. 2 easy to reach and one nearly impossible to get to, then cables.
Achievable if your keen. Normally a ratchet, the correct socket, perhaps an extension bar and a spanner or 2 of the required size. You'd get by with the spanner or 2 but it may take longer.
Check access from above before crawling under (perhaps something easily removed up top will give better access, even for an arm or hand to get down to it).
Could you get a loan of or buy a set of ramps? it would make access from underneath easier and (hopefully)safer. chock the wheels as well though.
Good luck!

This is what you will need to do!

shelene

Thanks for your advice!

The AA man disconnected the battery so no chance of it going up in flames just yet lol

I just rung round for prices

local scrappage palce - £25.00 for starter motor and will fit it for £25.00 too (but i presume they dont trained etc, is it safe to trust them with the job???

Garage 1 - £95.00 +vat

Garage 2 -(thistlewaites) - £285.00!!!

Gonna chat with the hubby and see wots best, cheapest option is to go with the scrap man if we dont want to do it ourself - any thoughts???

jaydeeuk1

Whats the fun in letting someone else do it

If they're capable of taking it off safely, I assume they'll be ok at putting one back on

andy111

I would imagine a scrapyard would have a fair amount of experience at straightforward fitting tasks such as this, fitting batteries and wheels etc and would be inclined to go with it.


It's a fairly straight forward fit if you've done a few.
He should do it in less than 30 mins and have all the gear, whereas to a novice by the time you've faffed about locating the right sockets, ramps etc, skinned your knuckles etc plus the risk factor you''ll have taken a couple of hours.
It's a no-brainer.
Plus, should it be faulty secondhand he can fit another, whereas if you had done it you wouldn't be sure if the secondhand unit was faulty or if was something you had done.

shelene

Hi all - well starter motor replaced, battery checked and okay - but car still not working!!
It is trying and sounds like it is just about to start but it doesnt, we went out and got new spark plugs - but still no luck

Sooo frustrating cause it sounds like its nearly there!!! ...

Any help???