I have kindly been volunteered to fit a starter motor to a friend's car this weekend, a 1989F Fiesta 1100cc. My friend has located the correct replacement, as I know that there were several different ones for the Fiesta and, whilst I plan to follow the Haynes manual, I was wondering if anyone has any additional advice on how best to do the job.
Thank you very much in advance
Yours
Andy
By the way, if anyone is at a loose end this weekend, I think the enjoyment might just be too much for one person...!
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Andy
You don't say whereabouts your friend's car is ... so I can give you a wide berth ;-)
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Small bit of advice for you from having done this several times with that engine myself.
The fitting of the starter motor itself is a very simple process - it merely requires unbolting and sliding out as detailed in the Haynes manual. New one pops back into place - replace electrical cables and you're away. Don't forget to disconnect the battery whilst doing the job though to save an accidental and nasty short.
The problem is, you say that they "have found the correct replacement". I owned 2 Fiestas, one near this age, one late Mk I - Ford have a very frequent habit of using any parts available at the time when the original spec one is unavailable. Interestingly both of my Fiestas were original spec, had never been modified, but on trying to replace the starter, the garage on both occasions had to try every single Ford starter they had with a little guesswork. In one case (the later car), an XR2 starter was fitted, in the earlier I forget which but it was not the standard part for the car, coming from I think an Escort of some descrip - the cars had been fitted with a different bell housing and therefore would only take the starter from the engine this part had originated from. Both garages where these were replaced commented to me that they found this very frequently with Fiestas in particular and it was nothing to worry about just a nuisance when finding parts.
So my advice to you is start it early in the day when the part shop where the motor was originated from is still open. You don't want to have the whole thing removed late Sunday and find the "correctly" matched Ford part isn't even vaguely going to go where the old one came out!
Good luck...
Dan
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My tip? Just make sure you disconnect the battery before you start.
I have seen many burnt hands/wiring etc when a short to earth happens.
David
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