Starter motor noises

The starter motor on my 90 V8 (Disco 1 engine) has started to make a strange noise.
It sounds like the starter gear isn't disengaging properly as it makes a noise like you're trying the starter with the engine running. It also makes a cracking/sparking noise at the same time. It still fires up ok but the clattering and shorting noises as it does so concerns me.

Do you think that the starter motor is on its last legs?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

It could well be not disengaging. Whip it out and inspect/clean the Bendix gear/shaft.

cappers said:

The starter motor on my 90 V8 (Disco 1 engine) has started to make a strange noise.
It sounds like the starter gear isn't disengaging properly as it makes a noise like you're trying the starter with the engine running. It also makes a cracking/sparking noise at the same time. It still fires up ok but the clattering and shorting noises as it does so concerns me.

Do you think that the starter motor is on its last legs?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Click to expand...

my disco v8 starter was making a funny noise a while back but it was coming loose.

Def90man said:

my disco v8 starter was making a funny noise a while back but it was coming loose.

Click to expand...

I had the same issue a few months ago, not so much noisy but losing the ability to start properly - the solenoid had become loose on the the body of the starter motor; maybe its loosened again.
I'll have to have a deeper look tomorrow.

Fortunately it was nothing more than a loose exciter wire.

The connector had slipped loose and was just touching the tab on the solenoid which made and broke contact as the starter tried to turn, hence the solenoid fired on and off and the sparking sounds

I re-crimped the connector and squeezed it closed more and pushed it back on and it stayed on despite some tugging so hope that's fixed it.
Now starts as normal without catching or shorting noises.

Thanks for the suggestions; luckily I didn't have to remove the starter which seems to be a bit of a job, at least on Tdi not sure if the V8 is the same.