Starter Motor Not Fully Releasing

[rincewind]

I think the engaging cog on the starter motor is not fully disengaging from the flywheel as I can hear it fighting a bit with it just as the engine starts. Anyone had this?

[Deafluggs]

The bendix has gone on the starter motor itself, you need a new one mate.

[fjcfarrar]

The bendix has gone on the starter motor itself, you need a new one mate.

It hasn't got a Bendix. It is a pre-engage starter via a solenoid. Disconnect the Battery first, disconnect the starter's electrical connections and take the starter motor out as if you were replacing it. Then just take it to bits (the cog/engage assy, not the brushes etc), clean it up to remove any grit & make sure no return-springs are damaged or moving parts severely worn or sticking.

If it is in a bad state you might still end up replacing it.

[Deafluggs]

I stand corrected, you learn something new each day lol.

[Sleepypete (FB)]

Like wot fjcfarrar said I managed to resurrect a starter motor on an Astra the same way and it worked for the remaining life of the car (which wasn't that long because it died in a pillar of flame 6 months after - unrelated).

Watch out for - reasons why the starter may have got clogged up, with the Astra it was oil seeping down from a leak above the starter.

The failing starter could be a symptom of something worse. I hope it isn't

[rincewind]

Cheers all. I will remove it and give it a good service. I doesn't do it all the time, so I'm not going to rush out there now - 7 inches of snow! Providing it doesn't get any worse, I'll wait until it's warmer methinks. It's the first thing to give any trouble in my six years of ownership (and it's only a small issue really)! The I'll give it a good detail so it looks like it did last year:

https://picasaweb.google.com/113189127403597154594/IS200#