Starter motor Audi 80 tdi 1z 90hp

[motchy87]

Hi,

My starter motor has started making an awful grinding noise for a few seconds on start up - I guess the drive pinion is not moving out of the mesh straight away due to it begin worn, so I have a few questions:

How long will it last in this condition if I left it (have a got a week left or a year left)? Is there a simple way of fixing it or shall I buy a reconditioned one? (they are around 100 quid plus a surcharge which is refunded once original starter motor is returned to be reconditioned).

Most importantly - how the hell do you replace the starter motor? I finally managed to locate it today - tucked away on the left of the engine below the turbo - it seems the only way to be able to get at it is from below? Is this right?

Shame that haynes never made a manual for this car! I've got the manual for the tdi 1z engine on the golf mk3, but the starter motor is located at the front of the engine apparently (plus the engine is tranverse not longitudinal), so obviously much easier to get at!

Many thanks in advance for your replies,

Tom

[Col]

If it is easy to get to, I'd take it out and clean the pinion mechanism.

Not sure sure on that engine but the phosphor bronze bush that the pinion shaft bears into may be worn as well (if it has one).

[motchy87]

Hi, thanks for your reply. It's not going to be a quick job so i'm going to live with the noise for a bit then replace it with a reconditioned motor so that I won't have to worry about it again!

[eddiemax28]

where is tha starter motor as i got tha same problem????

[motchy87]

Hi,

you need to jack up the car and take the plastic underbody off to get at the starter motor from below. It's located on the left of the engine block (driver's side), it's kind of tucked in as well - you can't see it from above because the turbo and exhaust manifold etc are all in the way! It's shaped like a cylinder - have a good feel! When I was recently doing some work on the car, I had a quick look at the starter motor - it doesn't look hard to replace - just a few bolts I think - I must get round to fixing it at some point!

Good luck - let me know how you get on!

[eddiemax28]

Thanx very much

[eddiemax28]

thas wot tha knockin is on my audi aswell as its stayin engaged and its chewin tha cogs up inside tha starter motor