Polo 1.2 Starter motor noises

[John24]

Hi guys,

There is seems to be an issues with my girlfriends Polo starter motor, after starting the car there is a short grinding sound.

I assume that's the starter not going back to it's position and then being pushed back by the gears.
Wanted to ask how hard is it to remove the starter motor from 2004 1.2 twist polo?

Thanks

[John24]

OK so to remove the starter motor is not hard on the polo.
- Take off battery cables (2x 10mm)
- Undo (1x 13mm) bolt that holds the battery and remove the battery
- Undo (3x 13mm) screws that hold the battery box and remove it (there are pins to split the box to remove inner cables)
- Remove the clip and the power cables (1x 13mm) from the starter solenoid
- Remove the cable from the starter mount (1x 13mm)
- Undo top and bottom screws that hold the starter motor (2x 18mm)
- Remove the starter

The procedure was fairly simple the clutch control arm got in the way but nothing serious.
Cleaned it out and lubed it up, all is good now

[bigshineybike]

Thanks Good instructions I just did mine, Its been making that noise for 18 months and presumably longtime before I bought it. The motor has a lucas manufactured sticker on it. our car is low miles 66,000 so presumably lots of short trips since it was built in 2005.
I did need to take off the gear control arm to get the bolts out that hold the starter.
I marked its splines with a punch before taking it off. you could get into trouble there.
also I didn't label anything but on reassembly can see you have a choice which battery cable to attach to which part of the solenoid.
I worked it out but if unsure make sure you mark the battery connections as you take it apart. Everything else is idiot proof I reckon.

we will see how long it lasts but is so quiet when it starts now.