Dealing with Starter Motor Failure
If you have to go somewhere, you will rely on your vehicle to take you from one place to another seamlessly and comfortably. The chances are that you are already envisaging the smooth drive, the heater on, and maybe your favorite podcast in the background. But imagine if you sit in your driver’s seat, turn the keys, and nothing happens. All your lights are working, and there is no sign of low power, then suddenly you realize you are dealing with a flawed Starter Motor Failure. If you feel like you are in this situation, we hope this article will shed some light on the issue. Whether you believe it or not, this is a more common issue than you may think. A bad starter is often a relatively frequent problem, and as a garage, our team deals with these issues daily. A starter comprises two main parts: the solenoid that simultaneously engages the starter and shuts the main electrical contacts, and the primary motor, which turns your vehicle’s crankshaft and starts the engine.
Common Starting System Issues and Warning Signs
You may be facing problems with your Starter Motor Failure System due to poor maintenance or by regular wear and tear. Even if you do decent maintenance tasks, various system components tend to get a lot of wear during their service life and eventually have issues. With more and more new-age cars being fitted with a start and stop technology, the total strain on a vehicle’s starter motor and battery has been dramatically increased. Solenoids and Starter Motor Failure do not typically fail without any warning. If you notice any of the following signs, ensure that you contact our professionals at Express Auto Care to book an inspection of your car since these symptoms might indicate issues with more than one component.
Loud grinding noise
When a vehicle’s starter drive car gets worn out or has stopped engaging correctly, it tends to produce a loud grinding noise. This noise is similar to the one often heard when you start your vehicle’s engine and then accidentally turn the ignition switch again. If you ignore this grinding symptom, it may further result in damaging your engine flywheel.
Free Wheeling
Freewheeling often occurs when you crack the engine and hear a whining noise without starting the engine. If this is the case, it means that your starter is not engaging correctly with the flywheel. This can be a difficult situation to deal with that could even result in having to replace the entire component. If you have been facing such an issue, you need to get your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
The Starter Motor Failure stays on even after the engine has started
When you start your vehicle’s engine and release the key (or stop pushing the button on a new car), the circuit that discontinues the power to the starter motor is ideally supposed to close. If this circuit stays on even after your vehicle’s engine has started, it suggests that primary contacts in the solenoid have probably been welded together in the closed position. If this issue is not addressed as soon as possible, your vehicle will get stuck in the “turn-on” position. It will ultimately result in severe damage to the entire starter system and the transmission of your car.
Starter Motor Failure when starting the vehicle
If you try to start your vehicle and your engine does not start instantly, but doing the action one more time works perfectly, it means that this is more likely a result of an issue with the relay. The starter relay is an all-or-nothing part, meaning that it will either send full electrical current or nothing to the starter.
Weak battery
Your vehicle may have power for your starting system; for example, you see your headlights and dashboard lights working, but your engine does not turn over. This is often misleading to an average driver since much battery power is needed to crank your engine. If your vehicle does not start, you can try powering it with a starter pack or jump leads. If this works, then it indicates that the main reason behind your problem is a weak battery. Keep in mind that most vehicles that face a starting issue during the winter months are a result of a weak battery.
Smoke
If you continuously supply power to the starter gear, it will get overheated. Smoke ideally indicates that the power drawn through the electrical supply is too much for the starter gear to handle. This can be either because of a connection issue or because the Starter Motor Failure has been operational for an extended period with no rest. If you see smoke coming from underneath the car’s engine, accompanied by a burning smell, it may indicate a severe problem or Starter Motor Failure. If this is the case, you need to contact a local car service provider immediately. If you live in Irving, TX, and are looking for a professional mechanic, then you can get in touch with Express Auto Care right away!
Our team from Express Auto Care is here to help.
Here, at Express Auto Care, we have a team of professionals who offer expert solutions to numerous types of mechanical problems. We can also provide you with an extensive range of vehicle-related services to help maintain the condition of your car to its maximum. Not only does our team have years of professional experience and training, but our services also come with a warranty. Be it Starter Motor Failure repair, suspension repair, oil change, tire installation, or anything else, our team can effortlessly handle all sorts of projects. Give us a call at 972-636-4903 or contact us online to book your visit today!