Reconditioned starter motors

joejoem

Hey the starter motor on my Fiat Punto has all but gone, it makes noises like Golem from Lord of the rings at me for a few mins before it starts.

To be reconditioned it costs €180. I have priced a second hand one at €60 which has not been reconditioned. Does anyone know how to get a better deal, or which of the above I should go for? My father hadmentioned that he heard of a place that take the old one out and put in a reconditioned second hand one for quite cheap.

Does anyone have any advice?

Auslander

If you're able to remove the starter yourself, there are several companys in Dublin that will recon your own unit for about 90-100euro.
If you're being charged 180euro fitted for a reconditioned unit, it probably not bad value.

joejoem

Thanks, am I better to recon the one I have or chance my arm with a second hand one?

yellow012

I had a Punto a few years back and the starter motor appeared to be gone. I took it to the local starter guy, he was gonna stick on a new one but didn't have one in stock. Instead he pulled the motor out, gave it a good clean with a wire brush, freed it out with wd40 or something, greased up the necessary parts and stuck it back on. Drove it for about 2 years after that without any further problems. He charged me £15.

0lordy

The starter in my Avensis went last month - cost me $210 to have a new one fitted (in Donegal). The guy would have "reconditioned" it but it was completely hosed.

yellow012: I guess reconditioned might just be a euphamism for getting the wire brush and the WD40 out?

Seth Brundle

As already mentioned thereare loads.
This guy springs to my mind:-
Myles Balfe Ltd
24 Phibsboro rd
Dublin 7
01 8307544

Myles Balfe Ltd
Red Cow
Naas rd
Clondalkin
01 4592676

yellow012

0lordy wrote:

yellow012: I guess reconditioned might just be a euphamism for getting the wire brush and the WD40 out?

Yeah, I suppose it depends on what condition the motor is in? Having said that there wasn't a tick out of my one and had to always park on a slope before he "reconditioned" it.

Interceptor

Mk1 Punto not so bad to get at - MkII Punto alternator an absolute pig to remove - I did one on a Sporting a few weeks ago and had to drop one of the engine mounts to get it out. It costs €80 to get them rebuilt with new brushes but if the toothed gear is damaged you would be advised to get a replacement unit. Try your local auto factor and ask if they do 'exchange' units where you bring your old one and they give you a factory rebuilt one. Or give Traynors in the North a shout - they will charge £25stg for a second hand one.

'c

AMurphy

$180 for a no-name brand re-conditioned unit seems a bit expensive to me.
if all your's needs are brushes and/or a solenoid, have your own rebuilt.
Get at least a 90 day warranty.
Some rebuilders are better than others, so it's a mixed bag.

how much does a factory re-built one cost, or are they not available.
can any of the parts be purchased OEM?. in which case you could recondition it yourself as someone else described above. they are pretty simple items overall.