Starter Motor...changed...but confused.

[dabill]

hiya,

eventually got sick and tired of my starter motor not clickin over everynow and again... so i just bought a new one and fitted it.

however, when i was fitting it, the engine seemed to drop as i undid the bolts holding it into place...
(although there were only 2, one at the top, and the one at the bottom which is the shortest one that does not screw into the main gear block..)

so when i was fitting the new starter motor i had to put a jack under the engin and jack it back into alignment...

the bottom is a 2ltr of an audi but im sure this wouldnt make a difefrence... is this normal? and sould there be the weight of the engine on the starter motor like that, although the new one fires up perfect....

rob

[monzablue16v]

Those 2 bolts are some of the ones that hold the gearbox to the engine that'll be why it dropped a bit

[cняis]

would you recommend placing a jack under then engine when changing the starter motor? its just i need to change one on my project car.

[...joe]

^^^ hell yeah support the engine! the bolts for the starter motor also go through the front engine mount!!! there should be three, one short, two long.

[DarnPB]

Support the engine as Joe has said, and also loosen off the engine mount from the cross member. This will ensure that all the starter moter bolts line up and can be tightened without puting a strain on anything. It also assures the spigot end of the starter engages nice and centrally into the bearing in the gearbox. Then re-tighten the engine mount. (Also helps prevent strange noises coming from the starter during start up!!!)