Hi guys hope you can help me out with this one .
Recently my car doesn't want to start it just makes a clicking noise under the engine bay which I presume to be the solenoid on the starter motor.
I've had a look and the cheapest new one Ivan find is 250 is there anywhere I can get one cheaper apart from secondhand?
Or do you think it can be fixed thanks jack

What's the mileage? I would say it's probably the battery more than the starter - i.e enough charge to fire the solenoid but not spin the motor. Try jump starting it first.

How long since it was last started? I'd agree with Nick atm.

It's got 51000 so not a lot of miles really.
I tested the battery standing still and was getting 13v????
And I drive it every day about 200 miles a week , thanks for helping so far guys btw it's a 55 plate if that helps

Forgot to mention the problems intermittent.

There was a problem with poor starting on early ST's anyone remember exact details??

I've read something to do about fuel management update on the ecu ? Gonna borrow my mates Aa card Friday and just get them to check the battery etc

Sounds stupid but have you checked the water in the battery isn't low?

the battery can output the correct voltage but the amps could be low and the cca rating is the main part of the battery, if its a ford battery its more than likely dead as they do deteriorate with age.

i would try borrowing a battery to see if it sorts it, if its intermittent check your battery connections

Bumping an old thread - this is now happening to me. Definitely not battery related - it's the starter.

Check the wiring to the starter. Had a similar fault the other day at work, turned out to be the solonoid wiring loom rather than the starter wiring itself. And it's free to check before chucking parts at it

Solenoid is fine - that clunks across as it should do, it's just that the starter doesn't spin when activated. I do have a replacement to go on, but I also have a sprained wrist which is stopping me doing it so far lol

Has anyone changed a starter on an ST before? Looks like a bit of a pain in the arse seeing as it's on the front of the engine...!

Guy at work said it was a bumper off job but he is a little ham fisted at times so there may be an easier way

So I did it at the weekend, wasn't too difficult but a few ancillary components had to come off to gain access - not the bumper though (though that wouldn't have helped anyway, as to go in from the front you'd have to remove the radiator, condenser and bash bar. I'll put up a little how-to in the guides section.

Hi mate I'm new to the site, can you show me how to find the how to guide on changing the starter motor please ? Thanks for any help

It's in the How To forum, but here you go:

Here are the tools you're going to need.
Socket set / spanners (8mm, 10mm, 13mm, 21mm)
Oil cooler gasket
Oil filter
Oil
New starter motor

1. Get the car in the air (ramps, or jacks and axle stands).
2. Disconnect the battery
3. Remove the wiring plug and 4x 8mm bolts holding on the throttle body, and remove the throttle body.
4. Underneath the car, drain the oil (13mm sump plug) and remove the oil filter.
5. Remove the wiring plug to the oil pressure sensor
6. Remove the oil pressure sensor (21mm deep socket)
7. Remove the 4x 10mm bolts holding the oil cooler / oil filter housing to the engine block. Be careful not to lose the gasket as they separate.
8. Remove the wiring from the starter motor using a 13mm and a 10mm socket.
9. Remove the 10mm galvanised nut from the starter motor holding on a galvanised wiring bracket
10. On top of the car, look to the left underneath the intake manifold and remove the counterpart 10mm galvanised nut.
11. Move the galvanised bracket out of the way, then use a deep 13mm socket to remove the nut (which is actually a bolt) holding the starter to the block.
12. Back underneath the car, remove the counterpart deep 13mm nut (which is actually a bolt), and the 13mm bolt at the rear of the starter motor.
13. Wiggle the starter motor free.
14. Replace the new starter motor. Put back in the two 13mm bolts with thread-rod (one on top, one on bottom), and the regular 13mm bolt.
15. Replace the galvanised wiring bracket and secure with the two 10mm galvanised nuts.
16. Replace the wiring harness on the back of the starter motor and secure with the 13mm and 10mm bolts (one for battery live, one for solenoid)
17. Clean the mating surfaces of the oil cooler and the engine block, and replace the gasket (I had to reuse mine, so made sure it was thoroughly clean).
18. Replace the oil cooler with gasket onto the engine block and secure with 10mm bolts.
19. Replace the oil pressure sensor and reconnect
20. Replace oil filter (run a small amount of oil around the rubber seal to ensure a good seal)
21. Ensure the sump plug is put back in!
22. Replace the throttle body, secure with 8mm bolts, and reconnect the wiring harness.
23. Refill engine oil - ~4.5L
24. Reconnect battery

All in all it took me about an hour, maybe an hour and a half