How Do I Know If My Car Starter Is Bad?
By Victor Ivan Coll
Updated April 24, 2023
If you have ever been left stranded someplace or simply missed an appointment because your car would not start, you understand the value of a strong battery and a working ignition system. Without them, your car would not run. While there are many reasons for a no-start condition, one potential problem is the car starter.
When you turn the key (or push the button) in the ignition of your car, truck, or SUV, you engage the ignition switch. The switch sends a low-power signal to the starter relay/solenoid which, in turn, triggers a high-power electric signal to turn on the starter. A shaft inside the starter extends to allow a gear (pinion gear) to articulate with teeth in the flywheel (attached to the crankshaft). The shaft spins and turns the flywheel, rotating the crankshaft in the process until the engine can run on its own.
A hiccup anywhere in the system, from the ignition switch to the starter itself, can prevent the engine from starting. While the starter is not usually the first component to go, it certainly is a candidate for ignition problems.
Starter Symptoms and Connected Concerns
Before judging the starter to be the culprit when a car does not start, a technician will inspect and test other related components. A dead battery with low voltage will prevent the starter from fully engaging, if it does anything at all. Same goes for damaged, corroded, or loose wiring in the ignition system. A bad alternator may prevent the battery from fully charging enough to start the car. A bad fuse or faulty relay may also prevent startup. And the starter solenoid (a device often mounted directly on the starter tasked with switching the starter on and off) can go bad and make it seem as if the starter is malfunctioning.
If all of these components are in working order and the car will not start, the starter may be at fault. But what are the signs of a bad starter? Consider these symptoms:
- A single “click” sound is heard when the key is turned. While this can be a symptom of a bad starter solenoid, it may also mean that there is a poor connection between the solenoid and the starter or that there is a problem inside the starter that is preventing it from engaging when the solenoid turns it on. This is different than multiple rapid “clicks” that may be heard when the battery is weak or the wiring is compromised.
- Fast-spinning or “whirring” sound. When the key is turned in the ignition and the engine fails to turn over, but this whirring sound is heard instead, the starter may be defective. The sound is due to a failure of the pinion gear to connect with the flywheel. The shaft inside the starter does not extend properly and simply free spins.
- Grinding Noise. If you turn the key on when the engine is running, you will hear a nasty grinding noise from the starter. If you hear that noise when you initially try to start your engine, the starter is probably bad.
- Smoke. If there is smoke coming from the starter (or from under the hood) after unsuccessful attempts to start your car, it could be a sign of a burned out starter motor.
- Intermittent Problems. The starter may not present all-or-nothing symptoms. Instead, trouble may come on gradually. Your car might start sometimes but not always.
What to do if you suspect your starter is bad
Starters usually last upwards of a 100k miles, although the starters on some vehicles may be prone to premature failure. If you make a habit of cranking the ignition for too long when starting your car, or if you repeatedly turn the key to engage the starter, you may shorten its lifespan. In any case, unless your car has a manual transmission (stick shift), you will not be able to start it with a faulty ignition system, including a bad starter. You may be able to push-start a stick shift, but you can’t do that with an automatic transmission.
If your vehicle is displaying signs of a bad starter, make sure to take it in to a certified technician for complete diagnosis of the ignition system. And have it repaired as soon as possible to avoid getting stranded by a car that won’t start at all. Better to set an appointment with a reputable auto repair shop than to miss some other appointment because your car didn’t start.
Victor Ivan Coll | Victor Coll | Author: Victor Ivan Coll | Copyright 2023
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