Fiat Dino Forum (FDF)

Hello all,

I am new to the forum. I got married recently and my wife brought along a 67 dino spider to the marriage She needs to be restored...the dino...not the wife! But right Now I need to be able to move the car around and keep it running but the starter gear is shot. I have removed the 3 bolts holding the starter in place but she still won't move. Any help in getting this starter out would be appreciated.

John

Hey John

Look's like you will need to have your starter rebuilt.

Now here comes the hard part
Your ring gear might also be shot! These go bad after a while and they then to skip a few start ever so often. Then the problem only gets worse from there.
I had the same issue on my 2.4 spider, the previous owner only replaced the starter gear.... to later find out that the ring gear was also pretty badly worn.

http://www.superformance.co.uk/fiat/gearbox.html
Everything can be fixed!
Olivier

Olivier thanks for the information much appreciated. Do you have any advice on getting the starter actually loose and out. I have removed the 3 bolts but no luck on even getting loose.

Thanks,
John

Working on a 1967 Coupe.
Having just installed the engine and gearbox without the starter, I found it was impossible to put it in without removing the motor mount.

Thanks John but not what I wanted to hear

Two thoughts about recalcitrance:

• Water has got into the mating surfaces and electrolysis has 'glued' the starter in place. A short, sharp whack should help persuade it to let go
  The starter pinion is jammed on the ring gear. Try rocking the engine back and forward by hand to see if it will release.

Removing the engine mount bracket is not such bad job and removing the Dinoplex will help access. Try from underneath as well

Peter

Hey there
I had my dino in the air today.
The best way to remove the starter will be to remove the motor mount.
Jack the engine
Disconnect the steering rod.

Arrrrrghhhh!

I'm to the point now where I'm turning the engine over; And it has turned over with the starter.

However, about 50% of the time, all power to the car just dies. No 12v anywhere. Then, as quickly as it disappeared, power returns and the starter will spin the engine properly.
This is not a weak-charge problem. Power simply stops all over the car, intermittently.

Cables and ground are all good. So the starter is coming out again.

on the inside RH firewall there's a battery cable junction that links the battery to the starter. Check that

Did that. Nice and clean.

Starter is out now. What PITA. Definitely hit-or-miss when testing out of the car.