What Do i do now dad?

What Do i do now dad?

Author
Discussion

anhamgrimmar

Original Poster:

1,024 posts

238 months

Saturday 23rd August 2008
quotequote all
While bimbling along in my new (to me) volvo, i suddenly remembered i had a rover coupe. You know, the tomcat, with a 5-spd box, and a 1.8VVC motor.

Its been dead for coming on 2 years now (Starter problem), and i definatly don't have the fundage to send it to a garage to get it fixed.

Symptoms:
Turn the key, and rather than turn the engine over, i just hear a nasty sounding KRKRKRKRKRK noise. I've been informed its the bendix?

Rather than fix it, i ignored it and bought another cheap banger to keep me going. however, i'm about to try and rectify this!

So:

How hard is it to repair/replace the starter on a '97 rover 218 Coupe?
What steps do i need to take when re-commisioning a car that's stood for 2 years?


I don't have a haynes book of lies, and i'm having difficulty finding one.
I don't have a tool kit yet, but i can get most of what i need.
I don't have a engine hoist/inspection pit, and they aren't likely to happen either.
I don't have a garage, but i do have a carpark, with as many spaces as i need to fill up while i'm repairing this.

I'm a technician (rather than an engineer), i've been trained in hand tool skills (on aircraft), however i cant/don't own/have access to a welder of any description, and i've never worked on a car beyond changing plugs/wheels/wiperblades and other simple tasks.

Anyone reckon this is gonna be feasable? or do i just ring up the local scrappie, and book an appointment with a HIAB?

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

216 months

Saturday 23rd August 2008
quotequote all
It has no Bendix as its a Pre engage type starter.

Turn the engine over 90degrees by hand and try again

Drop the starter out and look at the teeth on the ring gear, and make sure the ring gear does not turn on the flywheel.

get a battery and jump leads and bench testthe motor to make sure its OK

Sounds like a flywheel/teeth problem to me


Platinum

2,101 posts

230 months

Monday 25th August 2008
quotequote all
Are you sure the battery is in good condition?

The battery on my 214 was working fine in the morning. I went to start it later on, and it wouldn't turn over. It just made a fast clicking noise. A new battery solved the problem.

RichardR

2,894 posts

275 months

Friday 29th August 2008
quotequote all
anhamgrimmar said:
Anyone reckon this is gonna be feasable? or do i just ring up the local scrappie, and book an appointment with a HIAB?
Noooooo... don't send another one to meet it's maker. There must be someone somewhere you'll take it off your hands and sort out the problem!

LeoZwalf

2,802 posts

237 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
quotequote all
Sounds like the battery to me too! Not exactly a difficult thing to fix...

metro lover

553 posts

194 months

Friday 19th September 2008
quotequote all
i'd reccomend trying someone elses battery to save funds

HoeBlogggs

10 posts

198 months

Tuesday 30th September 2008
quotequote all
Left it for 2 years? Drain the petrol for one as thats going to be stale'r than 2 year old bread. Think about giving it an oil change if you can afford it, always good for them.

They didnt make a haynes manual for the VVC engine, however any Rover 'Wedge' manual will give you the jist of what you need.

Changing a starter motor on any of the K series engines is pretty simple, theyre on the top of the gearbox and held on by 2 bolts.

Whatever you do dont send another one to the crusher for such a simple problem frown

wildoliver

8,995 posts

223 months

Saturday 25th October 2008
quotequote all
Please don't scrap it, my girlfriend has been nagging for one of these for months, if you get sick of it I can at least promise it will be restored and back on the road!