Basic Electrics
Make your dead, worn, sluggish or noisy starter as good as new
How to overhaul your classic’s starter motor.
slow, noisy or unreliable starter motor is massive nuisance. If it’s left to deteriorate to the point that it turns at snail’s pace or ceases to function, it’ll disable your classic altogether. New or reconditioned replacements are available
Aoff-the-shelf for a good number of classic cars, but they rarely come cheap. If your car’s particularly old or obscure, this option might not be available to you.
Happily, the majority of common starter faults can be fixed at home with basic tools and minimal expenditure. Simply cleaning and servicing your starter can work wonders in itself – and it costs nothing at all. An afternoon’s work will often leave your starter as good as new. At worst, it’ll satisfy you that it’s worth the trouble of sourcing a replacement.
This repair guide should ideally be used in conjunction with a manual. All motors are broadly the same, but exact construction and strip-down processess differ a little. We’ve used a common ‘pre-engaged’ starter as our guinea pig. The Bendix-type starters found on many older classics don’t have a solenoid built-in. If your starter is of this design, note that the condition of the spiral thread on the shaft, the pinion gear and the heavy spring are critical.
Before you take your motor to pieces, note that sluggish starter operation is quite often due to defective external wiring. Make sure the battery leads and their connections are in perfect condition and that the battery itself is healthy. Check the wiring to the starter and make sure all earth connections are clean and tight.