Help with replacing the starter on a 3.2

Buck,

been a while but as I remember it for the Q.V. bit of access from below for some bolts perhaps, and heat shield and from sides - so at least one rear off and wheel-well cover. Don’t recall if I had the alternator off /slackened to get it out from that end. No doubt knuckle loss involved at some point and contortionism!!

Relatively speaking no big job, but depends on level of spannering. It’s at the front of the engine, against the fire wall (rear passenger seats). There’s a heat shield to come off, couple of feeds... I had problems with the solenoid if I recall and fitted an in-line relay. Never missed again. While you are in there a good chance to clean up the front lower engine area and check for any weeps etc.

Part was a Fiat I think on mine, maybe Bosch, think inQV model it changed, not sure what 3.2 kept; but pretty basic and readily serviced. (If you ever fit a starter button make sure it auto disengages!!!)

More tech savvy folks will have links and step by step guides ASAP no doubt.


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If the 3.2 has that then brilliant - not sure what else you’d get to that way - maybe the front exhaust header? Wasn’t away the Mondial had that??

For the sake up putting the car on a stand and removing the LHS rear wheel and inner arch cover, that should confirm how well you can access the bolts and nuts and if you can lift the starter out at that side or which way it has to come out.

Sorry I don’t recall, I had all sorts on and off as part of maintainence and servicing and sprucing up.... just a blur now!!

I have a funny feeling I had to slacken the alternator to get it out on the RHS wheel well. I do recall NOT having to remove or drop exhaust components, or dipstick tubes and any of the ‘fun’ stuff.

I used to be slim then, so sliding underneath (with the chassis on stands) wasn’t an issue!!

Hopefully useful help along soon.


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Just went back to notes. Was a right hand side removal with alternator off. I believe with some twisting and maybe exhaust heat shield off you don’t need to remove or loosen (away) the aircon pump. Mine is a 2 belt car though.

You will need some extension bars to reach the various nuts and bolts. I had it in axle stands (on the chassis) and had the RHS wheel and liner out. Maybe both sides for better access/viewing. More PITA than difficult. Make sure you mark alternator positions for belt retensioning.

Look forward to pics.


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You will need to jack the car up a little. Remove the right rear wheel, and wheel well access panel. Work from there and underneath.

 

That's the way I did mine. Slipped it out through the wheel well too. Super easy.

 

You can get a repair kit for the 3.2 starter motor. Jack the car up and it will come out with skinned knuckles

 

Try connecting a multi meter to the live cable on the solenoid and see what voltage you are getting to the solenoid when you turn the key.
If you are not getting 12 volts then you need to look at fitting the relay kit before you pull the starter, jack the car up and rig an external supply and switch to the solenoid. See if it turns over every time using this method.
These cars suffer from a loss of voltage to the solenoid at times and the starter does not work

 

Yep,

That’s what I did back in 04/5 I think. Posted up pics and steps somewhere here ages ago. V easy win.


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If you have a coupe you are out of luck.

IMHO this is not a starter motor issue, but a fuse box issue.

Does this happen after a longer drive? I had the same issue after longer drives (after 45min) the only remedy was to take off the power from the fuse box. (Not it wasn't a sticky relay) After a certain period of time the voltage drops and it will not be enough to let the starter motor sing. Similar issue when you have bad battery.

Anyway the issue is most likely in your fuse box. A relay kit fix will mostlikely the fastest and cheapest fix for this, but it is not the real solution IMHO.

 

Agree that the starter/solenoid is the symptom, but as short term fixes go the relay route doesn’t appear to hasten fuseboard degradation and is a relatively easy win. Replacing with an upgraded board, great. Just the price.

My own experience - the new board is still in bubble wrap waiting for the rest of the rebuild to catch up/start - meanwhile, the relay worked and I used the car for a number of years no problem (in terms of starter!!). Didn’t look out of place. And for me was an easy install.


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Keyword - Bosch.

Not a "Ferrari" starter somewhere else.