Mk3 Starter Motor Removal

[freightpack]

I have a 1988 mk3 3.0i manual and have had the common starter motor problem when it just clicks and the starter will not throw. I have a replacement starter motor ready to go on and have unbolted the old starter and disconnected the wires. Fine so far and then it comes time to pull the old starter motor out. Now I have tried up and down and for the life of me I can not get it clear from the car. Seems to be harder than a rubics cube. Any help would be great. Do I need to remove something else or do I need to push it harder. Please help! All the best Mark

[Karma Supra]

If its all unbolted, with both cables disconnected it should wobble out.... on the autos you have to remove the gearbox oil dipstick, but I can;t think of any reason why it would not come out on a manual!!! itusually coems out from the bottom, just behind the crossmember....

you may well find tha the new starter has the same problem... in which case use a relay straight from the Battery to power the solenoid plunger.... do you per chance have an alarm with an imobiliser?

[freightpack]

If its all unbolted, with both cables disconnected it should wobble out.... on the autos you have to remove the gearbox oil dipstick, but I can;t think of any reason why it would not come out on a manual!!! itusually coems out from the bottom, just behind the crossmember....

you may well find tha the new starter has the same problem... in which case use a relay straight from the battery to power the solenoid plunger.... do you per chance have an alarm with an imobiliser?

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Thanks for the information. I will have another go. I do have an immobiliser but have never had any problems with it. If the immobiliser is on the starter would normally turn but there is no spark. I can turn the immobilser off and then turn the ignition key. most times the starter solenoid clicks, occasionally it will catch and turn the engine half a turn and then sometimes it just turns and fires staright away. Another supra owner had the same problem which he said just got worse until one day it would not fire at all. My starter problem has been getting steadily worse. I have been told that there are some pins in the solenoid that wear. over a period of time they wear down and do not always make a good contact. Supposedly these pins can be replaced. Thanks for the help Mark

[Karma Supra]

The pins are easily replaceable... I changed mine and had no improvement.. I fitted some of my 4 spare (know to be working) starters, slight improvement but the problem was still there (usually on a warm engine). it turned out that when the engine was warm the resistance in the thin solenoid wire went up to the point that the solenoid would click.. but not move enough to make contact...

usually from my experience its thie contacts in the imobilisers relay oxidising and creating a resistance.. but as you imobiliser doesn't touch the starter so not this time!!!

Since I did the relay mod I have never had a problem.... Other mkiii supra owners have done the same mod, to the same effect. (some prefer to use a starter button instead, same difference)

[freightpack]

just had another go at getting it out with no luck. there is a hydraulic pipe to the manual clutch assembly which i can not get past. i can't come out of the top because of the air con pipes. any ideas?

[Karma Supra]

It comes out before the hydraulic clutch line.

I take it you have removed the lower strut brace (2 x 19mm bolts) for extra space???

[freightpack]

It comes out before the hydraulic clutch line.

I take it you have removed the lower strut brace (2 x 19mm bolts) for extra space???

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No I did not remove the brace but after a lot of twisting, turning and swearing it came out through the bottom as you said. Another 20minutes swearing got the new one in and with a bit more fiddling she's on. Started first time and away we go. thanks for your help but it's one job I do not fancy doing again. My arms are cut to ribbons.

[Karma Supra]

It is one of my least fave mkiii supra jobs... -its even worse on an auto!!!! I got pretty quick at it aftera lot of choppin g and changing... only to find it never needed to be take out in the first place :ffs: