Hi all hoping for some advice on removing the starter motor from my MK1 1.8 petrol. First here's the history of this problem: For the last 3 years the SM has been 'dying' with the solenoid not engaging the pinion gear 100% of the time. However it has finally given up the ghost and I have to finish the job I started 2 years ago and abandoned. Top two bolts were/are totally seized. Broke the head of one last year, and after 2 separate garages looked at it and given up I finally ground the head off the other one today. All 3 bolts are waisted so the top two that pass through the bell housing into the threaded holes in the starter should be free to move. The last bolt was removed with no problem. However the starter refuses to budge even a millimetre. I have whacked it as hard as I dare without wanting to damage the bell housing. I am short of ideas on what to do now, I've been working on this all week and I am at the point of considering taking the whole engine out so that I can drill out the bolts. Has anyone got any ideas ? Have I missed a bolt somewhere or a trick of the trade, or do I have to bite the bullet (which would allow me to sort some other issues as well - just not in the budget to do right now).

drench it in lube wd40 or the like, failing that maybe some heat, and buy or download a haynes manual

I will look out the Haynes manual, which is buried somewhere. I have tried both heat and lube, i was hoping that it was the threads that were locked up tight so by removing the bolt heads the SM would just drop out 😒

Might need a pry bar to help get it started ( sorry about the pun)

Thanks tried that but nowhere to get good purchase. Also tried an extension bar and a club hammer on the starter motor housing... No effect 😭

My only experience of starter motors is on my MK3,  there might just be someone with relevant experience on the talkford.com forum, where there's a Mondeo MK1/2 section.

Thanks I'll try that 👍