Starter issue

Not sure why you'd even consider replacing the starter. We get them rebuilt on a regular basis. If you bypass the solenoid and the starter engages, then the problem is with the solenoid. This presumes, of courser, that you have power to the solenoid...

 

Yes, it's a standard solenoid.

 

Well today I went for the annual inspection with the 456 after the winter storage. It had slight trouble starting which I blamed on the immobiliser. The second try it started right up and ran absolutely beautifully. Once at the garage it wouldn't start again however...
Thinking it could be a heat soak issue we left it for an hour with the hood open which changed absolutely nothing. Eventually we resorted to an indignifying push start which enabled it to pass inspection as well as to drive it home. Not a promising way to start the season!
I thought it was starting a tad slow as if the battery is weak before but its been doing that basically since I got it. Now i am not sure whether it deteriorated without me realizing.

Anyway on to my question - is it particularly difficult to remove the starter and does that take special tools?

 

What is battery voltage?

 

You're problem is a voltage drop to the activator terminal on the solenoid, caused by heat soak. You can fit an aux start relay to overcome the problem, but you have to use a dropping resistor on the original activator wire, to ground, because an ECU uses this wire as a ground reference. It'll cure your problem.

 

As for removal of the starter, it's not very hard. You have to have it on a hoist, and have to remove the alternator to assist with access. No special tools are required.

 

Thanks for the responses, the starter is absolutely dead, the relay will click but not even the slightest turn of the engine, not even now it is cold and with known perfectly charged battery. This was a sudden and unexpected failure, this never happened to me before in a million km of motoring.
Thanks for the tips, not looking forward to removing the alternator as well. A chance to rebuild them simultaneously I guess. Other tips while in down there? Lets combine with fluid flush and belts as they are due. Time to spend some €€.

 

Okay so as it turns out it is possible to take the back off the starter motor while in the car. This provided easy access to the brush holder. The starter has 2x2 brushes for power distribution, it was obvious one of the two sets wasn't working because the other set had signs of overheating. The commutator had oxidised a bit too but it was smooth with no grooves.
Cleaning the commutator, a new brush holder and regrease of the bearing made it 100% again. A good hour later and it now starts faster than ever.

So if you experience slower starting than usual and its not the battery it is a sign to be taken seriously. Replace this part before it stops altogether.