How to Know When You Car Starter Is Bad

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A car that won't start is definitely frustrating. If your car won't first, it might be a sign that something is wrong with your auto's starter, which is responsible for kicking over the engine.^[1] If you have some experience working with automobiles, notwithstanding, you lot can perform several tests to determine what's wrong with the starter. Checking the pinion can exist the quickest fix if the problem is not serious. The next level involves checking the electrical circuits to make certain everything is powering properly. If that still doesn't work, you can remove and bench test the starter to encounter if information technology needs to exist replaced.

1. 1

   Turn on the headlights and endeavour to commencement the car. A couple of things might happen when you exercise this. If the car makes a noise similar it's going to start, but the headlights dim, and so the starter pinion is probably jammed.^[2]

   • If the car makes a clicking dissonance simply never sounds like it'due south trying to start, and the lights dim, then the problem is probable the battery. Skip to checking the electrical system.

2. 2

   Turn the pinion stub with an adjustable wrench (spanner). The starter is a large electrical motor in a cylindrical housing, and information technology's commonly bolted to 1 side of the engine block. If you lot see a small, square stub (the pinion stub) sticking out of the end of the cylinder, turn it with your wrench until it moves freely in place. Endeavor starting the motorcar once again in one case the pinion tin can movement freely.^[3]

   • In mod cars, you'll find the solenoid (which is a smaller cylinder) attached to the starter cylinder, "piggyback" style. They'll be separated and continued by a thick wire in older cars.
   • Refer to your owner's manual for assist finding these components.

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3. three

   Rock the car if you see no stub and have a manual transmission. Turn the automobile off and put information technology in second gear. Release the emergency brake and stone the car back and forth. This tin can loosen the pinion.^[iv]

   • If yous don't see a pinion stub and you have an automatic manual, yous will take to take the starter motor off and bench test it.

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1. ane

   Visually inspect the battery terminals. Popular the hood of your car and cheque the positive and negative terminals of the battery. If there is whatever dirt or corrosion, information technology can cause a bad connection and a lack of power to the starter.^[v]

   • If the terminals are dirty or corroded, you lot can disconnect the bombardment, clean the connections with a wire brush, and claw them up over again.
   • In newer cars, the battery terminals or even the unabridged bombardment may be covered with a plastic cap. Remove ane or all of these caps to get a good look at the battery. But make sure cypher metal (tools, etc.) accidentally touches both terminals while you're working.

2. 2

   Test the battery's voltage with a multimeter. Set your multimeter to its "DC" setting and its dial to xx (to test from 0-twenty volts). Place the cherry probe on the battery's positive (+) last, and the black probe on the negative (-) terminal. Y'all'll go a reading in a higher place 12V if the battery is working properly.^[6]

   • Whether or not the battery terminals look OK, there may be a problem with the wires that feed power to the starter and other components.
   • While you're checking the voltage, make sure that the battery's globe strap is securely continued to the motorcar's bodywork. This is necessary for the battery to operate properly.

3. 3

   Visually inspect the solenoid. If you endeavour to start the car and nil happens, and the battery seems to be powering properly, then there is probable a connexion problem with the solenoid. This device is a pocket-sized cylinder usually attached to the top of the starter. Visually audit information technology to make certain all of the wires running to it are connected properly.^[7]

   • The solenoid won't work if its wires are hanging loose. Reconnect them and try starting the machine once more. If this doesn't help, the solenoid may not be powering up properly.
   • Solenoid wires usually clip or commodities into place. If you're not sure where a loose wire goes or how it attaches, get a pro's help.

4. four

   Use a excursion tester to see if the electric current is getting to the solenoid. Identify one atomic number 82 of the circuit tester (test lamp) to the feed terminal of the solenoid. Attach the other lead to bare bodywork metal. If the tester lights up, and so the problem is with the solenoid or the starter itself, not the current getting to it.^[8]

   • If the tester doesn't light up, so there is a bad connection and the wiring will demand to be worked on.
   • Another potential cause of this problem is a faulty ignition switch.

5. 5

   Check the solenoid output electric current. Place one connector of a examination lamp on the output of the solenoid and the other on the battery's ground (world) terminal. The lamp should lite. If non, you will need to take the starter/solenoid associates off and demote test information technology.^[nine]

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1. 1

   Remove your starter. If you hear nothing when you try to start the car, and the electrical circuits seem to be OK, and so there is probably a problem with the starter itself. You'll need to carefully disconnect the starter's wiring, unbolt information technology, and remove information technology from the engine cake to do further testing.^[10]

   • Removing a starter (with or without an attached solenoid) must be done carefully -- including jacking up the vehicle -- to forbid harm or hazards. Your automobile'south owner'due south manual may be of help, but exit this task to a pro if you're not confident in your abilities.
   • If you do remove the starter yourself, brand sure yous mark all the wires and proceed track of the bolts for reassembly!

2. 2

   Adhere jumper cables to your starter. Have the ruby jumper cable and connect one end to the positive last of a car battery. Connect the other end to the thick positive post on the starter'southward solenoid. Adhere one end of the blackness jumper cable to i of the starter's ears (the fin-like parts sticking up off of the master cylinder) and its other end to the negative battery terminal.^[xi]

3. 3

   Connect a wire to the starter'due south small terminal. Take a few feet of insulated 16-gauge wire. Strip ane finish and crimp it onto the small terminal on the starter. Become ahead and strip the other stop too, but don't do anything with it yet.^[12]

4. 4

   Hold the starter downwardly with one foot. When you lot bench examination the starter, information technology may move around and shoot some sparks. Holding information technology downwardly with your pes prevents it from jumping around and causing injury.^[thirteen]

   • You can ask someone to help you. Have them hold the starter downward securely with a booted foot while you perform the test.

5. v

   Impact the other end of the wire to the positive battery mail service. When y'all practice this, the starter pinion should move and spin. If information technology doesn't, then the starter is bad and will need to be replaced.^[14]

   • If the starter does spin and you still tin can't figure out why the car won't start, take a mechanic inspect it more thoroughly.

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• If the starter seems to exist ok, the problem may be with the solenoid. There are additional tests you tin perform to test it besides.

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Things Yous'll Demand

• Spanner
• Wire brush
• Multimeter
• Excursion tester
• Ratchet
• Jumper cables
• sixteen gauge wire

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Commodity Summary X

To test a auto starter, yous'll want to first your car and listen for any problematic noises that could indicate something is wrong. Commencement, turn your headlights on and start the automobile. If you hear a sound like your automobile's trying to start but the headlights dim, your starter pinion is probably jammed. Open the automobile and use a wrench to twist the pinion, which will look like a small-scale foursquare stub sticking out of the motor. Once the pinion is free, endeavour starting your machine once more. Yet, if the car makes a clicking noise when you try starting information technology, you likely have a problem with your battery. To confirm this, visually audit your battery for any signs of damage, such as dirty or corroded terminals. If this is the example, disconnect the battery and clean them with a wire brush before reconnecting the battery and trying again. For tips on how to demote exam your starter if you take an automated motorcar, read on!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Test-a-Car-Starter

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