[harryf]

my '95 318i has a starting malady. the starter motor turns but won't engage with the starter ring on the flywheel, at least 9 out of 10 times it won't. after being parked overnight it always works first time but from then on it's a bit of a lottery! taught me not to stall at lights...!
i have been told it is probably the solenoid or the bendix. is this correct and can i replace it without removing the starter motor? can i remove starter motor without dismantling half the car?
anyone know where i can download (free!) a workshop manual?

would be very grateful for any help. next time anyone is in South Africa i'd be glad to pick you up from the airport and give you a lift (there ain't no public transport or taxis here!)

harry

 

[gildersol]

This may help
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/101-Projects-84-Starter/101-Projects-84-Starter.htm

But some of the guys on here will know more when they come online

 

[Ronnie]

Replace the starter motor, the solenoid is part of it.

 

[itsabeema]

my '95 318i has a starting malady. the starter motor turns but won't engage with the starter ring on the flywheel, at least 9 out of 10 times it won't. after being parked overnight it always works first time but from then on it's a bit of a lottery!

had this problem for a week or so - been searching forum and came across this, which is what my '96 Beema 316i saloon is doing at the moment.

my problem was the starter motor whuring when i turned the key, it could be anytime from 1st thing in morning or when you have just turned engine off and tried to restart, sometimes it would connect and start before battery went flat, sometimes i would have to bump start :headache really unpredictable.

when my starter motor was removed the cog was abit knocked about and the solonoid 'cap' slightly loose (nice and clean tho, definately looks like previous owner had a new one fitted) , fitted another starter (used, but cog is good) but i still have the problem - only now it seems to start fine when car has been left for a lengthy amount of time, but once engine has started and i turn it off again when i try to restart it whurs 9/10 times, and MIGHT start before battery dies, :frown
if not its a bump start again, thankfully it doesn't need hardly any speed to get it going even tho its a heavy car to push on your own ,great when your at a packed supermarket carpark on a saturday :embarrassed :censored

'sticky' starter motor? do they stick? just a term i remember from back in the day when i had problems with my MK2 escort my mates would always say 'sticky starter motor' or do you reckon the flywheel or ring gear is the problem? (whichever it connects to)

PS. 'it ain't no fun' at the moment :frown

 

[Ronnie]

Unlikely to be the ring gear, you can try cleaning the starter motor up, has worked for some :cool

At least it will be good practise for when you do go to change the starter :hihi

 

[itsabeema]

Unlikely to be the ring gear, you can try cleaning the starter motor up, has worked for some :cool

At least it will be good practise for when you do go to change the starter :hihi

in a wierd kinda way i was hoping it was the ring gear as already changed starter :hissyfit, didn't want to go thru that again especially in this weather :headache - i will wait until it stops snowing then have another go.
is it an EASIER job to drop the gearbox an check the ring gear, rather than remove starter again?
its just that i can hear the starter whizzing round and i know the cog is good on it. :confused

 

[Ronnie]

You need to remove the starter to drop the gearbox out :hihi..................:frown



Oh dam I hear you say

 

[itsabeema]

You need to remove the starter to drop the gearbox out :hihi..................:frown



Oh dam I hear you say

aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! :yell :banghead :censored :hissyfit :biting :timebomb

 

[gildersol]

You could remove the starter motor and test it with a battery to see if the drive is being thrust out properly. (you have to stand on the thing while doing this or it will spin all over the place:hihi)

 

[itsabeema]

You could remove the starter motor and test it with a battery to see if the drive is being thrust out properly. (you have to stand on the thing while doing this or it will spin all over the place:hihi)

oh how i wish i had done that before fitting! :duh

removing the starter again seems a doddle compared to dropping the gearbox after reading this link in another thread :yikes
too advanced for me, starter motor it is then ptimist

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Clutch_Replace/E36-Clutch_Replace.htm