C3 Starter Motor Replacement

[quattrojames]

For my wifes car, 2003 1.4 HDi 16v

I can't even see it! I assume it's tucked down the back of the engine and changed from underneath? a Google search hasn't thrown up anything useful.

Does anyone have an idea what sort of job it is lieing on your back on the drive with the car on ramps?

Thanks in advance

James

[smokescreen]

Hi James,

My first C3 was a 55reg 1.4HDI 8v. I had no problems with the starter motor but have Haynes Manual and workshop manul on CD at home. I'll check both when I get home this afternoon and post when I've sussed it for you.

Regards
Mark

aka smokescreen

[Lighty]

It is a tricky job, the top bolt goes from the battery side of the starter, and you will need to remove the air intake pipes, best to lift the fuel filter out of the way and you will see better.
The other two bolts are accessed from underneath the car, just above the o/s driveshaft. all the retaining bolts are usually Allen head bolts.
There is often a bracket that holds the wiring onto the starter, make sure you get this off whilst the starter is secure, otherwise you will find it hard to get enough purchase on the nut if the starter has been freed from its mounts.
Next problem is getting it out of the hole, I think it will come out without removing the driveshaft just. On a C4 diesel last week with a similar set up, I had to remove the exhaust downpipe to get the unit out.
Its not a nice job as you probably gathered.

[quattrojames]

Thank you very much to both of you

In the end (after Lighty's advice!) I decided there are better ways to spend my Wednesday off than lieing under the car on the gravel and recruited my local garage, a bit of a cop out maybe, but I'm not getting any younger

[danielsydney]

My C3 starter motor packed up ages ago and was replaced by a French Mechanic here in Sydney Australia. I'm not sure what was involved in changing it. It did cost me about $600 however.

[quattrojames]

Well, the starter motor was £130 plus vat and with an hours labour it came to £200.

BUT.... bad news today, I had a phone call.... "The car won't start"

Everything was normal, but no response from the key, so I bumped it and it was returned to the garage. It seems, that in a strange quirk of fate the ignition switch failed, thus energising the starter circuit, so the starter stayed engaged against the flywheel as the car was driven, hence it burnt the starter motor out

New Switch £150
New Starter (again) £132
Labour £88
Recover to dealer for coding £40
Coding £50

All plus Vat

Cars tested my patience this year, it's been very good up until now but the time might be approaching.

[Neilr]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum and I'm not sure if this is the right place to post, however I am in the process of changing a starter motor on a Citroen c3 desire on a 57 plate and have run into some difficulty. I have located and removed all but one of the Allen bolts but have read that I need to remove the bolt above the solenoid that holds the wiring loom to the bracket, this bolt is a pain to get to so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas I could try.

Many thanks

Neil

[GiveMeABreak]

Hi Neil and welcome - what engine do you have - there are different ones fitted - you can PM me your VIN and I'll dig out the diagrams.

[Neilr]

Hi Marc

Thanks for getting on here so fast, sorry I forgot to post those details. The engine is 1.4HDI I believe
The VIN is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff] and the number is 29008173.

Cheers hope this helps

[Neilr]

Hi Marc,

I have managed to remove the bolt however the bracket fixed to the starter has both the clutch and selector cable attached so the starter will not come out. A silly question I know but do hey need removing? I haven't found anything that surgests they do. I'll add some pics if I can figure out how to do it.

[GiveMeABreak]

Unfortunately, there's no details on removing the starter - but these are the parts diagrams in case that gives you a clearer picture of the fixings....

[RichardW]

This pic suggests removing the bolt at 6 and nut at 2 - although it doesn't then go on to say to remove the bracket or anything...

[RGJ]

I removed the starter motor (Valeo) but there was no dowel fitted. It appears the replacement unit doesn't include a dowel. I wonder if its required?

[wheeler]

The dowel is not normally included with a new starter, you swap it over from the old one. Are you sure its not still stuck in the engine block?
If its meant to have a dowel then yes it need to be fitted, if not fitted it may move & cause the gear not to engage properly.

[Steve Walsh]

The dowel is not normally included with a new starter, you swap it over from the old one. Are you sure its not still stuck in the engine block?
If its meant to have a dowel then yes it need to be fitted, if not fitted it may move & cause the gear not to engage properly.

I put a new clutch in the wife's C4 1.6 HDI a few weeks ago, and that dowel gave me some grief, I didn't realise it was there when I removed the starter and then the gearbox. after refitting everything the starter didn't engage the flywheel properly, I thought some shrapnel had found its way into the starter from the failed clutch thrust bearing, so off with the starter again, stripped and cleaned it out, refitted it but just the same, removed it again and sat with it while looking at a parts list to identify the correct one, ( I had decided the starter drive gear was at fault)... I saw the dowel in the picture, it wasn't in the starter, and I found that the dowel had pushed all the way into the gearbox so that it was flush with the casing and not locating the motor properly, After pulling it out and putting it in starter first....Job done. lesson learned... that dowel if needed is only about a pound