Sep 03 2019

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Starter

Any good driving experience begins with a successful operation of the starter on your vehicle. Starter plays an important function in the vehicles. If the starter begins to wear out or breaks it will impact your ability to drive the car.

Overtime, starter motor wears out. The two components inside the starter that commonly fail are the Solenoid or the starter motor itself. If it happens, the starter needs to be replaced by a professional mechanic. The replacement is recommended so you can avoid any future breakdowns.

However, there are some signs when the starter begins to wear out or fails. Here are a few indications of starter problems.

·        The Engine won’t turn over and Vehicle won’t Start

It is one of the most common signs of a problem with your starter. It comes about when you turn the key and nothing happens. You may hear no engine sound whatsoever or loud clanking noise. It is because of the starter solenoid or motor that has burnt out or is experiencing an electrical issue. However, a dead battery could also be a reason behind this problem. In case it happens, you need to contact a mechanic to inspect different components of the system.  

·        Starter Engages but does not start the Motor

Another situation is when you turn the ignition switch and hear the starter activate the motor would not spin. Sometimes, the issues could be mechanical in nature. In case the gears connected with the flywheel could be the problem. You need to contact your mechanic for the replacement of the starter.  

·        Sporadic Starting Issues

The wiring inside the starter system can affect how the car starts. Loose or dirty writing within the starter can cause the car to start or not start irregularly. The repairing of such a car could be hard. Any damaged or failing electrical component could also be the cause of this problem. Even if starting problem is not common with you, it is advised to get your starter inspected.

·        Interior Light Dim When Starting the Car

The dashboard lights may dim on the car start because of a short circuit in the starter motor’s wiring. In this case, start motor extra current from the vehicle’s other systems. If it happens with a chugging sound, the bearings within the starter motor may be failing. Have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible.