Signs of a Starter Going Bad
When starter is going bad you will notice delay when starting or it will take several tries to turn the key for engine to start. Unlike bad alternator or bad battery – when starter is going bad it will display warning signs before it completely stops working.
What Does a Blown Starter Sound Like?
The sound broken car starter makes it’s usually just a single click and silence. You may also hear slow grinding sound when trying to crank the engine or just electric motor winding up when key is turned.
What Is a Starter And Where It’s Located
A starter is a small electric motor connected to the battery and controlled by ignition switch. Each time you start the car the starter engage first and starts turning cold engine until fuel is ignited and engine starts combustion cycle. Starter only works while the key is turned and as soon the engine starts the started motor stays OFF until next start.
Starter is usually located on the side of the engine block where engine connects with transmission at the bell housing. The location will vary on each car model and some cars will have it easily accessible, where others will require more parts to be removed to expose the starter.
How To Start a Car With Bad Starter
If you’ve determined that the starter went bad in your car there several ways to try to make it work one last time to take your car straight to auto mechanic. Before you call for towing service, try these quick fixes for a bad starter.
Hitting Car Starter With a Hammer
Hitting starter housing with a hammer, a rock or any solid object may get it going. As inside of the starter wears out the brushes inside the motor does not make good contact with commutator and the motor does fully engage and you hear either nothing or slow grinding sound. Hitting the starter with a hammer hopefully will give enough vibration to adjust and engage again. Using this method is very temporary and for emergency situations only. Sometimes this starter hack may not be possible, because the starter is located under the engine or covered with intake manifold.
Bump Start a Car With Bad Starter
Push starting, also known as bump starting, is a method of starting a car or motorcycle with manual transmission (doesn’t work with automatic). First you will need to make sure you have clear way to roll a car and speed up without anything in the way (downhill works best). You will be using cars rolling momentum to force the engine to turn over and ignite. Also called roll starting.
Turn the key all they way to on position and leave it on. Start pushing the car to gain some speed. If you have some one to help you pushing it, it will increase your chances of starting. Once the car is rolling, hop inside, engage clutch pedal, shift to second gear or third gear and release the clutch pedal quickly (popping the clutch). The car will jerk and if you had enough speed it will start driving in second gear.
Corroded Or Loose Starter Cable
Before you get under the car and start banging the starter, check positive cable from battery terminal to the starter. Starter motor has a direct HOT wire from the motor to the battery. When solenoid engaged starter motor a large load is place on positive terminal. Any small corrosion or loose connection will increase the resistance and reduce the amperage going from battery to the starter. To repair or replace damaged battery terminal call mobile battery replacement service near me. Our mobile mechanics carry all necessary tools, spare battery terminals and cables to complete battery repair onsite.