"click Of Death" Starter Motor

[AdeV]

My Mk3 is doing the dreaded "click" thing instead of starting; about 75% of the time. Sometimes it will start to turn over & then quit before the engine fires. Other times, just fine.

Obviously, it's the solenoid, and considering this is a "project: track day" car, I'll be having the engine out in a couple of weeks anyway, so access won't be an issue.

My question is, is buying one of the £15 "solenoid repair kits" off eBay likely to fix the problem for the forseeable future? Or do I pin my wallet down & extract the £170+ needed for a whole new starter?

Thanks in advance!

[ROYT]

You can get the kit from Lexus if you prefer OEM...

[AdeV]

Hi Royt - I was more concerned that if I buy the solenoid kit, then a week later the motor starts crapping out.... but if the motor is likely to be fine for the next few thousand start attempts, then I shall just buy the solenoid kit...

Mind you, as it's a manual conversion, I could always bump start it :)

[The-Acre]

Buy the kit, it works fine!

[AdeV]

Thanks! Will do! :)

[steve2006]

Mine's been in for 3-4 years now without a problem.

[Keith Bowler]

I had the starter rebuilt on my old GS at least twice in the 7 years I owned it.

Probably not same type as an LS but quality of original is no doubt similar.

[ROYT]

This is a slow job!

Allow yourself a day, lots of dismantling to get to it!

[AdeV]

Indeed; but I will be dismantling the whole lot anyway, so I can wire up the new ECU (see "track weapon" thread)... I anticipate having the engine on the bench for at least a week, maybe longer, while all the necessary bits are found & added...

[AdeV]

Cool, I managed to land on a whole starter motor for £40 delivered AND a solenoid kit, so now I should be sorted no matter what happens!