3 Symptoms of a Bad Starter
Is your car taking longer than usual to start or making strange noises when you turn the key? These could be signs that your starter motor is wearing out.
Symptoms of a bad starter motor can be difficult to diagnose, but keeping an eye out for certain strange noises can be a big help. Here you’ll find out what to look out for, what causes a starter motor to fail, and the approximate cost of replacing one.
Symptoms of a Bad Starter (What do you think?)
When you start your car, a properly functioning starter motor will make a periodic “buzzing” noise. As the starter spins the engine against compression it changes speed, creating a rhythmic sound.
Owning a car for months can make you get used to this everyday noise. A faulty starter will indicate the problem with a completely different noise.
1) The sound of silence
You turn the key, you press the button… nothing happens. There’s no noise (or clicking). This could be a faulty starter motor, starter solenoid, or some other electrical problem. It could be the car battery. (See section below for more information.)
2) Whistling noise at highway speeds
The starter won’t engage the flywheel. It just spins freely. This could be a problem with the solenoid valve or Bendix actuator. Or the flywheel ring gear could be missing a tooth.
3) Screeching or clattering noises
The starter partially engages the gears but doesn’t fully engage. The engine won’t start.
Sometimes, when you’re in this third state, turning the ignition key off and on (or pressing the start button repeatedly) will suddenly activate the starter and turn the engine over.
Great for those special moments. But don’t rely on it. It is inevitable that the engine will not start at all. Also, repeatedly turning it on and off to start the engine can damage the flywheel gear, which can lead to expensive repairs.
Starter failure can be difficult to diagnose
The above no-start conditions can be caused by a dead or partially discharged battery. If your car won’t start properly, the first thing you should check is the battery. Other types of failures can also cut off power to the starter.
For example, the wiring to the starter could be disconnected or damaged. The ignition key switch (or start button) could be faulty. One of several safety interlocks could be faulty, such as the interlock that prevents the car from starting when the transmission is not in Park.
Rule out these other possible problems before spending money to replace a starter motor that you think is bad. An experienced technician will look for such issues before simply replacing the starter motor if it seems to be faulty.
What causes starter motor failure?Starters in modern cars are very reliable. But there are several factors that can cause a car starter to fail.
1. Old
Time and constant use affect everything, including your car’s starter. In general, this is the most common cause of starter motor failure.
Starting the engine more frequently accelerates deterioration. The situation is even worse if you drive most of your mileage only in the city. Long-distance driving means fewer engine stalls, longer mileage, and a longer life for your starter motor. Most cars are expected to need starter motor replacement after about 100,000 to 125,000 miles due to normal aging.
2. Cold Winter Weather
Starters age faster in cold weather because extreme cold makes it much harder to start an engine. An example of this would be a car that is parked outside night after night in temperatures well below freezing. And freezing temperatures greatly increase this aging factor.
NOTE: Cars and trucks that are exposed to such extreme cold conditions would benefit greatly from the installation of an electric engine block heater. If you are going to do this, consult a competent service technician.
3. Improper Starting Techniques
Serious damage can occur to the starter motor if other issues make the engine difficult or impossible to start. Do not leave the starter motor running for long periods of time if the engine does not start immediately. Doing so risks overheating the starter and damaging the internal wiring.
In these situations, we recommend activating the starter for no more than 5-7 seconds, then stopping it for at least 15 seconds to cool. We recommend no more than four consecutive starting attempts using this procedure.
Then, allow the starter to cool for a few minutes. Please refer to your user manual for more information.
4. Engine oil spills onto the starter
Such a leak can cause oil to enter the starter housing and coat the commutator area of ​​the motor shaft. This will affect the starter’s ability to crank the engine.
If your car has oil leaking onto the ground under your engine, you should inspect other systems, such as the starter motor, for damage.
5. Driving in Deep Water
Deep water should always be avoided. If it is deep enough, it can submerge the starter motor and cause internal corrosion, which can lead to starter motor failure or, in the worst case scenario, water hammer within the engine.
