Once the starter begins making noise, is it a goner??

[mtnbob]

My starter has begun to make grinding noises, first every once in awhile, now almost all the time. Are they possible to repair? How difficult?
Is it just a matter of a bushing or two, or is it a major project??
Thanks
Robert

[jtanguay]

when mine started to make noises, it lasted over 2 years... in fact the only thing that killed it was me burning out the starter trying to get my car going when there was a fuel leak issue & only 1 good glow plug  :lol:.  if i replaced all 3 bad glow plugs, i probably could have drove it with that starter for a while more.  but the difference is amazing! it turns over so much more rapidly now.

they are possible to repair, but if you've never done it, you should get it done by a reputable shop.  could be the bushings, or could be something worse...  i think mine was just the bushings!

[Vincent Waldon]

The good news is that there are only two bushings... one internal to the starter and one that presses into the transmission.  The one in the tranny seems to take the bulk of the abuse, and it's both cheap (couple of bucks max) and easy to replace once you pull the starter.

Of course this all is dependent on where the "grinding" noise is coming from, and of course there could be worn brushes, etc... but a tranny bushing changeout is a quick thing to shotgun.. here's the "thread in a tap" method:

http://vincewaldon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=28

[smutts]

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:STcX3K8NYsQJ:www.montreal-vdubbing.com/forum/viewtopic.php%3Ft%3D43+vw+bosch+starter+motor+plastic+ring+gear&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=uk
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2359900
If you need to gut the motor, these explain how to do it. Don't forget to jackup the engine, else it will fall on you when you unbolt the starter.
 :?

[smutts]

Bugger, I've messed it up again! :twisted: