Lancia Beta Forum

Technical stuff => Electrical => Topic started by: spyder_resto on October 06, 2025, 09:57:50 AM

Title: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: spyder_resto on October 06, 2025, 09:57:50 AM
Hi All,
I have now got my 2.0 lancia beta running on the fuel from fuel tank.
But during an attempt to start it smoke came out of my starter motor and i will need to replace it.
Is it hard to remove and replace the starter ?
Any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: HFStuart on October 06, 2025, 10:24:35 AM
Very simple  - the long bolts into the bellhousing and the bracket at the rear.  Access is a bit easier if you take the inlet off but it's not essential.
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: Ferrit on October 06, 2025, 10:40:52 AM
or Rad out maybe?  I wanted to do this anyway and got a good view of everything under the IM

Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: JohnFol on October 06, 2025, 11:34:40 AM
I've always done the radiator out method as it's easier access through the grill that leaning over the bonnet..

Also took the opportunity to replace with a high torque, and much lighter unit from WOSP.

Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: Ferrit on October 06, 2025, 02:52:57 PM
That is so cute.  Is it good?
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: JohnFol on October 06, 2025, 04:07:38 PM
It starts the car .... . .  :D
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: spyder_resto on October 06, 2025, 04:46:17 PM
Thanks for the responses. I have a spare one so will check if that one works otherwise will get the one that smoked repaired.
Thanks for the responses everyone!
Si
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: spyder_resto on October 06, 2025, 11:01:11 PM
ok. I have had a disaster.  :(
Was removing the starter motor and the bolt on closest to the engine (i.e the one on its own) has sheared off.
The two on the other side came out ok.
Any advice would be appreciated...
the head has sheared off and is stuck inside the hole and there is no way for me to turn it
thanks
Si
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: peteracs on October 07, 2025, 03:27:50 PM
Hi

Sounds suitably horrible place to have it happen. Are you able to remove the starter?

Depending how stuck the 'stud' is, then drilling and a stud extractor may work. Drilling may be a challenge of course. A photo may help get a better idea of the situation.

Peter
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: spyder_resto on October 07, 2025, 05:44:09 PM
The starter moves but it is fixed with the last bolt. Looking at the length of other bolts there cannot be more than two or three threads on it holding it in.
Access is very tight indeed, am having to get to it through the wheel arch.  Have now ordered a extractor tool that I can turn with a socket so I can reach it via a very long extension.
Have drilled it out a bit using a bit extender which really helped so will try the extractor when it arrives but may have to mix that with a bit of heat!
Its never easy is it!
Will keep you informed
Thanks
Si
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: Ferrit on October 07, 2025, 09:00:03 PM
Hope it works.  I have similar spring tension bolt snapped on my cam-belt tensioner.  Pictures also please.  Good luck
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: spyder_resto on October 08, 2025, 09:26:33 AM
Hi All
Does anyone know what the size of the starter motor bolts are please?
I have one snapped and the threads on the others are in very bad shape.
Would be good to replace..
thanks in advance
Si
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: spyder_resto on October 08, 2025, 09:45:03 AM
looking at my parts catalogue it looks like the starter motor bolts are Lancia 14044721.
This is the same as Fiat 1407721

looks like they are M8 x 75. Can anyone please confirm?
Thanks
Si
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: Ferrit on October 08, 2025, 02:20:41 PM
Its odd, all my Lancia genuine and Haynes manuals make no mention or torques.  My Lancia manuals normally has torques and bolt sizes but nothine.  This is odd
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: SanRemo78 on October 08, 2025, 02:47:16 PM
If one has snapped but the others are out will the starter motor not slide out along the broken "stud"? There may be another bracket holding it to the front of the engine? You should be able to see it from underneath? Once the motor is out of the way you may find s day or two with penetrating oil and a mole wrench will get the remains out? I'm assuming that the bolt hasn't sheared at the threads of course!
Guy
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: Nigel on October 08, 2025, 06:00:21 PM
If you are still having access issues, I'd suggest removing the
battery tray and other bits above such as water hoses etc. I had my radiator out and
grille off when I fitted the WOSP unit. Easy to get to.

I'm thinking the starter is held in by bolts with 13mm heads. If I'm
recalling correctly the bolts will be M8x1.25 i.e. the metric fine.

As Guy suggested, there may well be a bracket to the
block supporting the back of the starter.

Nigel
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: spyder_resto on October 08, 2025, 08:51:02 PM
Hi ,
I may well have to remove the battery tray and rad if I have no luck.

I had hoped it would slide out and then I could deal with the remains on the bench but when I hit the bolt remains with a screwdriver and hammer it would not move.

Am I correct in thinking that the hole in the gearbox casing is not threaded?
Thanks
Si
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: Nigel on October 08, 2025, 09:56:52 PM
Si,
No they are not threaded.

N
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: JASPER_40 on October 09, 2025, 08:49:38 AM
I recently had my starter motor out and it was a bit of a pig of a job.

Mine had a bracket supporting the back of the starter and securing it to the block. This was difficult to remove as the space was very tight requiring slim hands, a good range of spanners and UJ's. I would suggest asking the wife to help therefore !  Also getting this bracket back in was worse.

Dont know why this bracket was even necessary as all other cars seems to just rely on the 3 bolts securing the starter to the bell housing.

I also had to remove the oil temp sender to gain enough wiggle room to manoeuver the starter out, which was also very tight. if you are further hindered by this obstinate bolt then I think you may not get the starter out at all without getting this bolt out first.

My car is an S3 with Air con and not sure if the procedure suggested here is the same as for all others.

This was an account of my struggle with the starter, for what it is worth.

Steve
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: spyder_resto on October 12, 2025, 06:30:37 PM
Does anyone have pictures of the bracket please?
I could not see it on my car and could not see it in the Haynes manual.
thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: peteracs on October 12, 2025, 11:50:14 PM
Hi Simon

I suspect this may be an Australia version as cannot remember one on any of the engines I have stripped.

Peter
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: JASPER_40 on October 13, 2025, 07:13:46 AM
Yep, could be something peciliar to the S3 or the Australian market or both.

It is a very useful addition to enable the skin to be removed easily from the back of the hands and knuckles when trying to remove the starter. Apart from this, it serves absolutely no other purpose other than to support the back of the starter motor, which isnt necessary

Interestingly, the bracket is bolted directly onto the block and so I can only assume all engines have these holes to take this bracket but just not generally fitted. Can anyone tell me if these threaded holes are in all blocks ? Surely Lancia didn't drill and tap the block just for fit this bracket for the Aus market...!!

Cheers,

Steve
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: SanRemo78 on October 13, 2025, 09:15:23 AM
Prety sure I've seen that bracket on VX engines but I don't think the current or earlier cars had it? I did mention it earlier in the thread as a possible hinderance to removal.

Guy
Title: Re: Starter Motor Removal - Any tips!
Post by: rossocorsa on October 13, 2025, 03:10:31 PM
I don't think my VX had this I need to have a look. On the microfiche one version of the bracket is annotated '0085' which means fuel injection. Oh and by the way that's series 4 not series 3! Series definition on Beta coupe/hpe always causes mass confusion.