Rite i've got a mk3 slim starter moter on the afh for obv reasons to run the mk3 fly ...

Its correctly wired up .. Its spinning but not engaging properly .. It seems to only be skimming the fly..

I've had it off and tested it .. It jumps across and spins .

No idea why its not engaging properly ..

Any one had a similar problem ?

Cheers Jamie.

have you used the mk3 alternator wiring for it if so it can be that causing it as the 6n's had beefier wiring for it so less resistance and more power to the starter

try and get the 6n wiring and see if it helps

cheers pete will try that tomorow :)

Should still engage properly with the early alt/starter wiring, I've run both the 1.4 and 1.6 on that wiring/starter/fly combination and never had an issue with the starter not engaging

Although its spinning . it's not engagin properly :/

Must have a duff starter then :/

I have a spare I'm selling if you need. Pm me if you do need it mate, fingers crossed you get the problem sorted!

If the starter is jumping out and spinning as it should off the car and when its on it its as if it's not slotting into the flywheel teeth properly, I'd imagine the starter is working fine and the problem is something else. Might be a silly question but are you 100% sure this starter and flywheel are compatible?

Right dude, I'm not Entirely familiar with this type of starter, and can't remember much.

However,

Basically,

The solenoid on the starter is like a relay, a high current switch, but it also acts as something to engage the pinion to the flywheel.

So old starters such as inertia ones etc engage by rotation throwing the pinion down the shaft into mesh.

This type, basically,

The body of the starter is ground, anything that needs to be ground is "connected" this earths through your engine block, which is grounded to body/batt yes?

You then have your main live terminal which connects directly to the batt, this is like the "high current" connection of your relay so to speak.

The small terminal has your ignition feed (switched 12v feed)

This energises a coil, which then working like a relay, allows the high current contact to be made, this completes the circuit and allows the starter to spin.

However, this is a lot larger than a relay, and is a solenoid, conventionally, this solenoid has a lever arm on it, which pushes the pinion out, into mesh with the flywheel, so basically, as you turn the ignition switch, it flicks the pinion out, makes contact and spins the starter.

I seem to remember something to do with a "hold in coil" built into the solenoid, which keeps the pinion engaged whilst you're cranking, so maybe something up with this? Throwing the pinion out but it jumps back? Bit forgetful me.

If it doesn't engage far enough, it could be maybe a worn lever arm, maybe not enough movement to engage the pinion, don't overlook mechanical things.

It's all well and good testing wiring, but you're not even getting it to engage yet, worry about wire thicknesses when it's struggling to crank or they're getting hot.

Google it though, it's not a polo specific thing, starters are common, there's lots on YouTube too

Unless, as stated its something like the starter/flywheel combo being wrong etc!

Hope that's some use

Well spoke to mikey and he said there may be a bush in the gearbox still which will stop the pinion from throwing out enough ...

The starter/flywheel should be copatible .. Teeth are same as old starter etc.. Ill have another play after work

Slim on left . Orig mk3 on right ..

No diff part from body :S

What about that little bush on the end,

To be honest i doubt its compatibilty issues, just that the slim starter is on its way out, have you tried testing them both and seeing how far they both propell the pinion gear?

Yeah ill check them both tonight .. If so I'm screwed cus I've got no money atm lol :(

RIte i've found out that the slim is not throwing out all the way to the stopping ring .. Unlike the mk3 item ..

I shall change the solinoid over and see if it helps .. If not its new starter moter time i think :(

Jamie can you not yank it out a bit and see if its just getting stuck?

Done that mate Its moving freely by hand but think its not getting thrown out by solinoid tbf