starter removal after flood

[tyeetoo]

New to the forum. Old guy in Mapleton, Oregon with young ideas. I have a very nice 1991 318i that, unfortunately took a bath in the flood here in Mapleton in January. Good news only wet carpets. I did all the engine work last winter to get her running great. She was in the garage during the flood and the starter motor and solenoid either got submerged or damp. After the flood she started right up and ran great. Two weeks later the solenoid spins like crazy but the motor itself will not engage the flywheel.
Any suggestions? I have another starter motor on the way but hope there is another fix rather than pulling the starter. If I have to pull the starter do it from the top or bottom. I've gotten a bunch of opinions on that one.
Thanks in advance for the suggestions. Mike in muddy Mapleton, Oregon

[jlevie]

It sounds like the starter solenoid or bendix is binding, probably from corrosion caused by being under water. The starter on the car may be fixable, but it will have to come out to do so. If I pull a starter I work from both the top and bottom.

[tyeetoo]

thank you

That's what I expected. Thanks for the reply. What size are the torx bolts? Mike

[xwill112x]

I used a 12 mm socket on them

[vpilarrt]

I have removed starters from above only by taking a spare 12mm (or it is 10? I can't remember but you can check the fit) 12 pt closed-end wrench and breaking it off so that its about 2.5" long. Now you can reach behind the bellhousing from above and put this wrench on "backwards" (have the angled portion be towards the front of the car) and let it rotate while you loosen the front nut until it contatcts the bellhousing and allows you to then remove the nut. Same for re-installation.

[3bvert]

yes you can do it all from above

real good time if you have not done the "junk" under the intake manifold as the manifold, while not really in the way, with it gone, the starter is so stinking easy to do

but I sure would not remove it , just to get the starter out.

Hope your replacement starter is good, could be the old one is just gunked up, keep it as a spare

[KenC]

If you move the black harness box, it makes it WAY easier.