The starter motor on the 90 has been playing up and is slowly getting worse. Often when starting the engine, the starter motor spins but fails to engage with the flywheel and turn the engine over. It seems to happen more when the engine is warm but can happen at anytime. It usually works after a couple of flicks of the key however.

At the same time, once started it seems to stay engaged with the flywheel for slightly too long, producing some odd noises once the engine has fired.

Does this sound like the starter is buggered or is it simply a faulty solenoid?

Cheers

Usually a pre engaged starter will only click and engage with the flywheel and not spin the motor due to the wear on the copper contact in the solenoid. It sounds like it may only need a clean and oil of the mechanism and pinion. However you may have some damaged flywheel teeth which is letting the starter spin, without spinning the flywheel.

Cheers Kes, I was chatting to a mate last night and he also thought it may have gummed up with a combo of clutch dust and a leaking rear crank seal. I'll pull it out this week and have a ganders. What should it be lubed with (other than 10w40 that is currently dribbling onto it)

If its sticking on you may have a faulty ignition switch aswell

Free off with WD 40 or something better like plus gas. Then lube up with 3 in 1. If you wire it up to a battery on the floor and test it, you should be able to see what it is doing. If it's really manky clean with diesel first.