ALT-2 Knowing when your Starter needs to be Replaced
If you find that your car is having starting problems, then it is not too difficult to work out whether your starter is the problem and needs to be replaced. All you need to do is take a bit of time to work out what the symptoms are.
First thing to do is to check that the battery terminals are clean and tight. If they are, then turn on your headlights and then try again to start the car engine. A flat battery would mean that turning the ignition key causes the lights to go very dim.
Try jump-starting the car, and if the starter motor still does not turn, then it’s time to look at the starter solenoid. The above troubleshooting points assume that you have ignitions lights showing on your dash. Even if these lights are present, it is always a good idea to check the starter motor fuse in the car’s fuse box.
If, when turning the ignition key, there is complete silence, then either the solenoid or the wiring system is the root of the fault. Make sure all the wires and connections are in good order, and that there are no breaks in the wires, or corroded parts.
You can connect a test light across the solenoid to find out if it is faulty. Do this by attaching one wire from the tester to the positive feed connection of the solenoid, and the other end of the tester to the earth. When the ignition is turned on, the bulb on the tester should light up. If it does, then the fault is with the starter motor.
Although a starter motor can fail quickly without symptoms, they have more of a tendency to fail slowly. You usually find that the starter becomes a bit sluggish when turning. In fact, you may only get a click from the solenoid when turning the ignition key. It usually then takes a couple of turns on the ignition switch before the starter engages, and the engine starts.
The problems normally then grow to the point that you go out to the car one day, to find that it won’t start at all. Unfortunately, because it is normally a slowly developing and intermittent fault, owners can find themselves living with a faulty starter until the starter motor totally dies.
The starter motor operates by throwing forward a little gear wheel, which engages with the car engine’s flywheel. The cure could be as simple as checking that the bolts holding the starter motor in place are tight enough. The mechanism, which operates these gears, can also become clogged up with road dirt and general wear and tear. The starter motor will then be unable to engage with the flywheel, but there is a temporary get you home tip you can follow.
If your starter motor is not engaging, then stick your car into gear, and rock the car backwards and forwards. This can sometimes jiggle the starter enough to get your car up and running. A gentle tap with a hammer onto the side of the starter motor can also sometimes free it off. Please note, that you only need to use a gentle tap, not a great thud.
To solve the problem, you need to repair or replace the starter motor as soon as possible. Whether you can repair the starter depend on where the damage is. If it is just that the starter pinion that needs cleaning and greasing, it is well within a DIYer’s ability. If the gear teeth are damaged, then you will need a new starter. You can save a lot of money by replacing it yourself, and most auto shops will give a good discount on a new motor. You just have to hand in the car’s old starter in part exchange.
Just make sure you have reconnected the wiring properly after fitting the new starter motor. All that’s left to do is turn on the ignition, and listen to the new starter spinning your engine successfully.
