starter motors f5a vs f8b

[me217]

hey
just wondering if the starter motors are the same between f5a and the f8b.

[me217]

for any one who needs to no. there different.

[ToranaGuy]

Are they really?

When i did my F8b conversion i used my original gearbox, clutch & flywheel setup & the starter without any issues aside the timing marks on the flywheel being out. Found that out the hard way.

I've got a small starter in the shed that i picked up in a pile of F8b hatch bits that i think is a F8b starter, but how can you tell?

Cheers

ToranaGuy

[Brayden]

Can't say I've ever noticed a difference. Auto box uses a shorter motor to clear the shifter linkage but they're all interchangeable.

[me217]

the one starter was abit bigger then the other and the the f5a one had a different alloy bit that goes inside the gearbox.

EDIT: also one other thing the solenoid bit on the f8b starter has 2 small wires coming off it as well has the main power wire, and the f5a one only has 1 small wire and the big main one.

[Brayden]

I've got half a dozen starter motors at my place, they all have the same wiring (2 small, 1 large). The only difference between them is that the auto is shorter by about 30mm.

[me217]

oh thats weird cause my original mighty boy starter only has one small wire and the f8b one has 2 small wires. i'll take some pics tomoro of the 2.

[jono]

I've got half a dozen starter motors at my place, they all have the same wiring (2 small, 1 large). The only difference between them is that the auto is shorter by about 30mm.

Don't suppose you want to give me one I'm looking to get my boy back on the road and a starter motor would be a start!

[Brayden]

Well I have half a dozen... will need to check if any of them work!

[me217]

any one no what the 2nd wire does and if i can use the single wire on my f8b.

[Ralf the RR]

any one no what the 2nd wire does and if i can use the single wire on my f8b.

My guess the second connection is for an Automatic Neutral switch.

[me217]

what would that do?

[shavenyak]

isn't the second wire the coil ballast resistor bypass circuit?
So if your starter only has the big screw on connector, and one spade connector, then starting will be just a little tougher, and as I'm finding, cold starts can be an issue if your coil is a bit tired.

I don't think these differences are to do with engine model, but the age of the starter maybe?
Also according to the manual the auto starter is apparently slightly gruntier and also heavier.

[me217]

isn't the second wire the coil ballast resistor bypass circuit?
So if your starter only has the big screw on connector, and one spade connector, then starting will be just a little tougher, and as I'm finding, cold starts can be an issue if your coil is a bit tired.

I don't think these differences are to do with engine model, but the age of the starter maybe?
Also according to the manual the auto starter is apparently slightly gruntier and also heavier.

that would make sense as the f8b coil is a 3 wire thing and the f5a coil is only a twin wire thing. so the 3 pin coil goes with the twin wire starter and the 2 pin coil goes with the single wire starter.

[shavenyak]

that would make sense as the f8b coil is a 3 wire thing and the f5a coil is only a twin wire thing. so the 3 pin coil goes with the twin wire starter and the 2 pin coil goes with the single wire starter.

yeah although you can use any combination of starter and coil, it just means that if you don't have the twin wire starter you may find that the car takes a bit more cranking to get started.