STARTER MOTOR LOCATION?!

[Chazzarous]

hi, 

I’m new to this forum and unfortunately I am here because of an issue with my Berlingo.. who seen that coming? 

For a while now on a cold morning it takes a few turns of the key to get the glow plugs warm and then and only then after a few goes will it begin to start. Only now this morning that it won’t start at all, I changed the battery for a brand spanker and still nothing, I have been advised by my garage to give the starter motor a whack as they think this is the main suspect, only issue is that I can’t locate that on my Berlingo. It is 2006 2.0 HDI and I’m hoping that someone out here could show me exactly where it is, than you in advanced!!!

[cancunia]

Front of the engine / gearbox between the radiator & engine, down low, battery side.

Starters are a common topic on here, a quick search should turn up a fair amount of info.

[iamtoo]

The knocking it with a stick solution won't last long, at least it didn't for me. I just replaced the starter motor on my 2005 2.0 HDi. I got a 1.7kW version to replace the 1.4kW that failed, and it makes a noticeable difference on these cold mornings.

[Blackshuck]

I've done the same with my 2004  2.0hdi Berlingo - new battery & a new uprated 1.8kw starter motor - engine now turns over faster & starts much easier when cold .

[jonnie100]

Sound just like what was happening with my 2.0hdi. Fitted a new high power starter and starts first turn everytime now.
It's bigger than the original and a bit of a chew on to get it in but a garage should take no more than an hour tops.

[iamtoo]

My 1.7kW SM was, surprisingly, exactly the same size as the 1.4 it replaced, so fitting it was pretty easy.

Disconnect your battery.

First, I needed to remove the top hose from the radiator to give me hand room from above. Next, unscrew the two nuts which hold the power cables to the solenoid & SM, and then the three bolts which hold the SM to the engine block. Two of these bolts are easiest to get to from above and the third from below the vehicle. The SM can then be removed from underneath the vehicle. Fitting the new one is the reverse procedure.

The only problem I had was removing the under-tray fitted to my vehicle. At the front the under-tray is held in place with three bolts and speed-clips. The speed-clips had lost their grip on the bodywork but were still attached to the bolts, thus the bolts couldn't be removed. I had to drill-out the bolts.

Knocking the SM probably works because there is some debris inside or it has got stuck. Either way, knocking it is not a long-term solution. A SM could be refurbished but the cost saving over getting a new one would be minimal. I paid under £60 for my replacement SM, including delivery.

[cancunia]

Pardon my mend & make do old-school club habits, but I'd like to say that I put new brushes in my original 2.0 Bosch starter 2 winters ago and it's still fine. Cost £12 & took not much longer than swapping the starter. Doesn't exactly spin the engine mega fast but it's never failed... oops pass the jump leads :-)
Just saying, that there are options. I did actually also buy a used high power starter and refurbed that too, but it's still in the storage box.

[jj9]

@ cancunia,

Nowt wrong with a bit of proper "mechanicing"  instead of just being a fitter!

I've never fitted a new starter motor to any of my own vehicles ever!

.

[iamtoo]

I've never fitted a new starter motor to any of my own vehicles ever!.

Ever had any of them fail, afterwards?

I agree on the mend & repair mantra and have done it on various vehicles over the years. Most of us are probably members of this forum exactly because we are mend & repair types.

However, there are some jobs that just aren't worth the hassle. My recent starter motor replacement fits that category. I was able to fit the replacement SM immediately after removing the old one and the vehicle was back on the road after just two hours (and most of that time was spent drilling the bolts on the undertray). The vagaries of Royal Mail and courier services in my area would have meant the vehicle being off the road for many days (including a weekend making it even longer) had I attempted a repair, rather than replace. Where I live being without a vehicle is a major inconvenience.

Furthermore, for not a lot of money I got an uprated SM.

As SMs only operate for a fraction of a second every time the vehicle starts, I fully expect this one to outlast the vehicle.

[jj9]

No, they've always been fine, it's normally always just the brushes that have worn down.

I appreciate you don't always have the time to fix things when you need the vehicle on the road.

That said I can remember driving round in a car with no starter motor fitted for a couple of days whilst it was being fixed, just made sure to park on a slope or take a few mates with you to give you a push to bump start it.


Kids these days...... 


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