FTO AUSTRALIA

So back on topic. My mate brought over his volt meter tester thingy and the battery is sitting around 12.7v. According to above this should be all good? Apparently the power is getting to the starter motor also. But its just not turning over. The starter motor is covered in oil for some reason, possibly a leak coming from somewhere or maybe i just spilled some when i did my last oil change. Could it be that the oil is just cauing a bad connection for the electrical to turn the starter motor? Im gonna try to remove it as per the diy thread and give it a clean. See if that does anything. Got an auto electrician coming out on monday, although now im thinking it may not be something electrical and im not sure how much he would actually be able to help with. Thanks for all the help. Wish i knew more about cars so i can do up my own diy threads to give back to the forums a bit

Tap it with a hammer.... NOT HARD.

My mate had the exact same problem - it's the starter motor. Because they sit right next to the exhaust, they overheat or something like that, and i forget what the part is called - but it costs like $2 from autobarn, if you take it apart and replace it (not hard) - it will work fine again. While you're doing this, you might as well do a little re-conditioning of the starter motor yourself (clean & re grease). If you don't have the time for it now as it takes an hour or two (depending on how good you are with cars) just to take the starter motor out, just do what I8A4RE said - 'tap it' a few times, then try to start your car, if that doesn't work, have someone try start it while you're tapping it, but keep in mind, this will only keep you out of trouble for a few weeks until you HAVE to take the starter motor out & replace the part.

If you're having trouble finding the starter motor, just get on the ground and have a look under it, it hangs in the centre pretty much, you'll see your exhaust running right beside it. Hope I could help!

Yeah we've tried tapping it while i try to start it. No luck. I was going to take it off and pull it apart, but then realised i cant drive it onto some bricks to hoist it up. Damn this low car, i cant get under it properly. Could try to use a jack but im not sure how much that will lift the front of it up. Thanks for all the help guys.

They are a very common problem, so just bout all of us here have been through it one time or another. Personally I have been through about 4 of the f**kers.

Yeah jack it up and and grab some axle stands if you don't already have them 20-30 bucks from supercheap. DON'T GET UNDER A JACKED UP CAR WITHOUT THEM.

I usually chuck my spare tyre underneath next to the jack just in case..

Just clutch started it so it should definetly be the starter motor. What part exactly am i looking to replace?

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Yeah that's him!

So its the bushes? lol

It's not because they're weak, or too close to the exhaust, its because they're 15 years old! And most likely have been covered in oil from lazy oil filter changes not being cleaned up afterward.

And if you want a real good way to repair it back to brand new with paying grey import markup from Mitsubishi (that is, if it's more than a bushes issue) then grab a HJ Galant unit & swap the housing with the FTO one. Bolts straight in.

Most likely the bushes, but if you're unlucky it could be the solenoid. Try your luck changing the bushes, otherwise i think Bennoz is on to something

Yeah, have seen melted solenoids before. As you say, for $12 bucks, you cant go wrong swapping out the bushes. If its worse, so be it, you wasted 2 beers worth

its the starter motor. But check the batteries first