Joy of joy at 11.30 last night my car wouldnt start ,I tried jump starting my car nothing whipped battery off & connected car directly to jumper pack, still didnt start. So thought fone recovery = 90 minute wait, so I sat in car getting cold so in my wisdom I thought bump start only problem being there was nobody around to help so anger management went out the window & I managed to get enough momentum & hey presto bump start worked I then had to sit for then next 5 minutes catching my breath OCTAVIA's aint light I have decided.

So this morning RAC have been & diagnosed starter motor, so my question is How easy is it to replace? :confused:

Thats if the back eases up after last nights fun.

they're quite high up on the engine so shouldnt be too much of a pig to do.

they're on the passenger side to the left of the battery (as you're looking at the engine)

I think if you remove the battery and the battery shelf you can access everything from above pretty easily.

When I start the engine sometimes I get a horrible shriek for a second or two just as the engine starts.

I'm assuming it's the starter motor getting kicked back by the flywheel or something. Can't think of anything else it would be.....

Might replace the starter and see. Do you know how much a new one is gonna be yet?

It looks like a very simple job to do anyway. You got a haynes manual?

Faulty solenoid, most probably. Think there's a thread about it somewhere... yes:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia-i/sticking-starter-motor/93365/?highlight=solenoid

IMHO not much to worry about but of course sooner or later the starter will give in completely. I've heard the argument that the flyweel may get damaged, but I would think that the flyweel is the toughest of the two.

Faulty solenoid, most probably. Think there's a thread about it somewhere... yes:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia-i/sticking-starter-motor/93365/?highlight=solenoid

IMHO not much to worry about but of course sooner or later the starter will give in completely. I've heard the argument that the flyweel may get damaged, but I would think that the flyweel is the toughest of the two.

Thanks for that mate. I'll check it out.

Hi Bodge,

I just noticed that you already must have read the thread I suggested since you have posted in it (November)

Noisy starter must have strange effects on memory

my starter does the octy grind. but i find if you put power to the solenoid twice it rarley girnds.i do this by turning the ignition key on untill all the idiot lights go out, and then repeat the procedure,start as normal and no grind.

"the Octy grind" that one ought to be a coined expression here

my starter does the octy grind. but i find if you put power to the solenoid twice it rarley girnds.i do this by turning the ignition key on untill all the idiot lights go out, and then repeat the procedure,start as normal and no grind.

i'm going outside right now to try that

well i got cold for nothing :thumbdwn:

The shriek noise is probally the starter pinion sticking and not disengaging correctly due to clutch dust and rust etc on the pinion bendix shaft.

When the engine fires and the revs increase this kicks the pinion out of mesh so the whirring may be the starter overspeeding until this happens.

This is a very common fault on the octys and golfs.

Not to self : take out starter and clean crud off pinion.

Hi Bodge,

I just noticed that you already must have read the thread I suggested since you have posted in it (November)

Noisy starter must have strange effects on memory

hahaha yeah i totally forgot! noticed after i posted earlier! i blame it on the north. the air must be affecting me...

glad to see it's a common thing anyway. although apparently i already knew that! strange

Well I got a new one of the old internet. Fitting took about 20 minutes and all is good again. Question is what to do with the old one? Anyone interested? If so see thread in For Sale area.

Well I got a new one of the old internet. Fitting took about 20 minutes and all is good again. Question is what to do with the old one? Anyone interested? If so see thread in For Sale area.

I had a look at taking mine out a while back but thought the nuts and bolts looked a pain in the ar5e to get at, so i left alone.

A guide would be good:thumbup:

hello, i am newbie so please be gentle!!! i have a noisy starter motor on a 2001 fabia 1.4 16v comfort, i have been quoted 112 + vat for a new one, but ebay has them selling for upto 45 but for the 1.9 diesel, is it the same or anyoneknow where i can get a cheaper one from as i am a pennyless orphan with 20 dependance and a cheapskate hubby!!! lol ;-) i am greatful for any help and advice