Sometimes when i turn my key to start the car it just makes a whinny noise, does this mean my soelnoid is shot. it seems to do it more and more now, there isnt anything in common when it happens, just everynow and again.

Hi
the whining noise would be the starter motor spinning but NOT spinning OUT to engage the flywheel ring gear..

could be something simple like the bush in the bell housing is badly worn...

You just take the starter motor off
after disconnecting battery and the leads on the starter motor..

knock the old bush out and a new one in..

this is probably the most inexpensive fix on a beetle... lol

there are spiral splines on the starter motor shaft
and when it spins, the shaft spins OUT and the gear engages the flywheel ring gear...

Could also be the electric brushes in the starter motor worn down..

but sounds like the solenoid IS working...

its a starter motor problem...

cheers

LEE

Okay. How do i remove the starter motor

my bros car had the same issue. a bit of internal cleaning and regreasing did the trick. Many years of gunking up. Althought it could be a few reasons, that would be the most common from my experiences...

If you have a look at your starter motor, its mounted via one large bolt (engine mount bolt) and a large nut. You can take the engine bolt out without any worries about the motor falling lol, as long as the other 3 are still in there. Then take off the bolt and its free. Just pull it straight out towards the front of the car.

Disconnect the assortment of wires from the back of the starter... some will be connected via a small nut... so another socket and your set. Take note where they go, or better yet, a photo before you disconnect it all.

then it should be free and out.

Installation reverse of removal

Do i have to remove anything else, obviously the drivers rear wheel, and disconect the battery. Dads got a new bushing so how do i get o0ld one off

OKay will not be under it

Dad has got a bushing and set of brushes from classic. whe n you say ubolt one terminl on the battery do you mean just diconnect it,

yep,i used a 1/2 bsw tap to pull the last bush i changed in my T3 caravelle,tapped a thread in it enough to be able to pull the bush out

Quote:

Originally posted by pod yep,i used a 1/2 bsw tap to pull the last bush i changed in my T3 caravelle,tapped a thread in it enough to be able to pull the bush out

i still dont get where the bush is and whats a bsw tap

Hi

Don't worry about the BSW [british standard whitworth] tap
as they would be hard top find these days.. lol

You won't find BSW bolts around either... lol

water pipe was BSW threads.. lol

he just used what was available... lol

What You need to do is pull the bush OUT

I'll see what pic I have

the bush is inside that piece so it needs to be pulled out..
tapping a thread in the old bush then screwing a bolt to it and removing it... there are a few ways to get it out...??

LEE

B = the hole where the bushing goes...

check the bush...

as its no good replacing it if its NOT worn

but chances are its been in there for a long time...

LEE

Is that second pic of the strarter motor

Its a daily driver, need it tommoro.

Have got the starter out and done the bushes.
Need to get the bush out and engine is in, how do it?

starter bushing is just pressed into the gearbox case

its just something for the starter shaft to run in

its actually missing in this pic




you can tap a thread into it so a bolt can be screwed into it to help get it out

you get at it through the starter hole,whilst you have it out
and Lee... BSW taps, nuts, bolts are still easy to get as we use them at work all the time

Yeah i just dont have any taps at or any other way of getting it out, I plan on getting a easy out from some shop tommmoro. Ive got the starter back in and started it three times with no whirring so maybe just needed a slight sand.

Hi

the end of the starter motor shaft may need some oil on it
to keep everything moving freely...

after taking the starter motor off again...

pull the gear on the end outwards...
then grease with lithium based moly grease or engine oil
coat the end of the shaft with grease where it goes into the bush...
all these things need lubricated....

if it moves lubricate it... to stop wear & rust..

None of this can hurt

LEE

Okay, it started fine this morning and was game emnough to get petrol and started fine at the servo. Went to school and started fine while i was leaving. Got into town, parked it left it for about an hour and started making that noise again but this time sounded like a turbo spooling as well, like a higher pitch noise. Got it home and parked and just though id test it and it wouldnt kick. Leave it for half hour to an hour and itll start.

What is it?

Sounds like the throwout bearing [or whatever its called] is sticking and not Flying out and engaging the flywheel gear..

You could just take the starter motor off...
and pull the gear outwards... if possible.. ??
and spray the splined shaft with WD40 or OIL...
there are splines under the piece that the gear is attached to...
that is supposed to fly out when the starter motor spins..

normally the gears engage and the engine starts...

I wouldn't normally advise that but it won't cost you anything and may keep the starter working,..

another starter motor would probably fix the problem....

LEE

IMHO

Yeah well its goiing to get a professional opinon tommoro so ifs its gunna cost more than 150 will just get a new starter form classic.