So, Mrs Santa and elf out today,
Maintenance slot booked
So lets get this starter out, and see what's going on
1) Battery charged and voltage checked ok 13.6v
2) Starter out, that was a pig, so the hexhead was easy , a couple of wobble extensions and out, the TC not so , right where i wanted to get access is the
servo box, so that had to be moved out of the way, still no joy there's a mounting plate in the way, ok I'll drop the exhaust remove the flapper unit .
Yea right, one sheared bolt later, that fucker is not coming off the down pipes
So rummage round the shed, and find another wobble bar, now i can get to the bolts ;thumb, then the start wont budge, the plastic cover is feck off
tight, and needs some persuasion
Finally cover +Ve & trigger wire are disconnected and the stumpy fecker is out
3) Strip starter , pretty easy, the pinion end is a bit dry and lots of dry black yellow gloop / grease - so all stripped cleaned and regreased and
assembled. Commutator was a bit black, but brushes good, cleaned the undercuts , and commutator , wiped all the magnets clean and reassembled
Now I've been looking at starters, and there appear too be many options
New OE , New Pattern, Refurb OE & used
Used is out, so its new OE or pattern
According to a well known breaker / supplier the longer units Arrowhead, Valeo, may not fit .. hmmm don't want to buy one and get caught out
Then I remembered I had an old valeo unit in the shed,, so old valeo (long) unit fitted, and servo box back in .. Result it fits
So old valeo unit out, and Bosch unit back in,
4) Add direct leads to battery - something that another site offers as a kit ( but you can do it your self ) for a fraction of the cost
5) Everything refitted and all leads connected, no smoke sparks or bangs
6) Pressed the starter and it was like it was on steroids , chug chug, and it was away ... Result
Now I've been bitten before, and just because it started it don't mean its fixed, I'm pretty sure the starter is dying , so i will be ordering another & a new
battery too
Now here's the question
Do I go OE , I can pick one up delivered to my door for £300 ( which may drop to £269, if the season of goodwill promotion covers it )
Or I can get a new Arrowhead unit for £200 delivered
Or i can go recon for £120
Warranty 12 months on all of them
Thoughts ?