Starter motor - easy to change?

[SeanyK]

Hey folks, had a search, plenty of discussions about starter motors, but no one mentioning if it's an easy or hard job to replace.

Ages ago I noticed like a grinding type sound when I started the car up, to me it sounds like it's coming from UNDER the car (Cat/Downpipe area) but anyway, it only lasts a second or two, and it's just after starting.

After searching, it would appear it is definately the starter motor.

It went away for a while, and yesterday had the clutch/flywheel replaced and it's now back making that noise on startup.

Was just wondering, if it's a relatively easy job to do? Can it be done from the top without too much trouble?

There's no massive rush to do it, but if its fairly simple i'll give it a go this week.

Thanks in advance

 

[chumsofmanutd]

Yes mate, I imagine its very similar to my 1.6 Sport. It was basically just 3 bolts (One of these being the front engine mount) and then the connectors.
Not a big job atall.

 

[SeanyK]

Yes mate, I imagine its very similar to my 1.6 Sport. It was basically just 3 bolts (One of these being the front engine mount) and then the connectors.
Not a big job atall.

Hi mate, was it easy to get to though, for some reason I always thought it was the top part of the engine to the left (near the belts) am I completely wrong?

 

[chumsofmanutd]

Yea it was pretty straight forward. Its the bottom right of the engine. If I remember rightly I undid two of the bolts from the top and then found it easier to get at the third from underneath. Probably possible to get at them all from the top though.

 

[SeanyK]

Thanks mate, I was having a hunt around for any engine bay pics of the Cupra to see if I could see where it was.

Im hoping to be able to get to it from the top as round our way it's impossible to park the car on flat surface as every couple seems to have 3 cars (even though theres only 2 of them to drive them!) and a space is like a goldmine! Our driveway is sloped :'(

 

[chumsofmanutd]

no probs mate, good luck.

 

[EZ Tutty]

Heres a picture of an engine & gearbox removed to show you where it is, i've circled the starter motor and solenoid, i have removed mine before (when removing the gearbox) working from under the car iirc

Hope this helps

 

[SeanyK]

Absolutely perfect mate really appreciate that!

It looks from there, as if I should be able to get to it from the top if I take the battery / tray out and probably move the maf out the way...
Many thanks again mate,

Sean

 

[Myki da Pyki]

Perfect picture to go by. May need to pop off the intercooler pipe aswel so you've got abit more room

 

[SeanyK]

Perfect picture to go by. May need to pop off the intercooler pipe aswel so you've got abit more room

The beauty of this being... I bought some sillicon pipes to replace the inlet to intercooler hose the other day... Was planning to do that Saturday so can take that off anyway while im there.

Wish i'd bought the boost pipe hose to intercooler as well now :'( Not sure I can get one before Saturday now!

 

[SeanyK]

Hey folks... The dream is over!

I attempted it this morning... In fact, the engine bay is still in bits, but I cannot get to it properly, i've removed the battery, but the battery tray thing seems to be attached to the entire chassis!

I've moved the power steering bottle away, but there is some electrical connectors on top of the starter motor area that I cannot for the life of me get off, and if I did the wires would probably still be in the way.

I have a feeling this would be about 10 times easier from underneath with possibly only the intercooler to remove, but I haven't got flat ground to work on, so I guess its garage time for it next week

Ah well, I tried at least, i'll just have to fit the gauges now instead!

 

[Myki da Pyki]

Take out the radiator mate, that should free you up some work space