4 Types of Starter System Trouble

Few issues can cause more frustration for drivers than a motor that starts sluggishly, only starts once in a while, or doesn't start at all. These and other issues indicate a problem in some part of the electric starter system that sends the necessary current from your battery to your ignition.

While you might not have the skills or tools to correct such problems yourself, you can still benefit from recognizing their telltale symptoms and the underlying parts associated with them. Discover four types of starter system trouble to watch out for.

1. Unusual Noises

When you activate your ignition, you expect to hear the normal sound of the electrical circuit closing and the engine starting. Instead, however, you may hear nothing but a clicking or chirping noise, and the engine will fail to turn over.

While this problem can occur due to a low or failing battery, it may also stem from a bad starter relay. Your starter relay must send a full electrical charge to your motor if you expect the ignition to engage. If it cannot manage this feat due to some sort of damage, a clicking noise may result. Replacing the relay resolves this problem.

A loud screeching or grinding noise from the starter may indicate an alignment problem between the starter gear and the engine flywheel. This alignment problem can cause serious damage to the gear teeth, so have an expert examine and fix it right away.

2. Slow Cranking

If you find that you have to hold your ignition key or button for several seconds, listening to your starter struggle before it finally activates the ignition, then you have a problem that may make itself worse with every start. Making your starter crank for an extended length of time can overheat the parts, doing even more damage.

Sometimes, a start may prove slow to stop cranking. The cranking should stop the moment ignition occurs. If it doesn't, the extended cranking may damage both the starter and the transmission's flywheel. Get this problem checked as soon as you possibly can, ideally towing it to the shop instead of starting it again.

A starter that won't quit cranking when it should most likely has a relay problem. If the main contacts in the starter relay get stuck in the closed position, the circuit between the battery and starter may never open, forcing the starter to keep cranking as long as the battery holds the necessary charge.

3. Intermittent Starter Failure

When you turn the ignition key or push the button and absolutely nothing happens, you might assume that you have either a dead battery (a distinct possibility) or a dead starter assembly. After making several attempts, however, your car mysteriously starts just as quickly and easily as it normally does.

If you experience intermittent starter failure, you know first of all that your battery sends enough power to making starting possible. Turn your attention, then, to the components that feed this electricity to the starter solenoid. Corroded battery terminals or loose wiring may prevent the solenoid from receiving full power.

4. Total Starter Failure

If your car's ignition doesn't make any effort whatsoever to engage, you might assume that you face a worst-case scenario for your starter system. However, a total starter failure may originate from as simple a problem as a dead battery or a disconnected battery wire. Have a professional check the battery voltage and connections.

If the battery looks good but you can't even get a clicking noise out of the starter, then you may have a failed starter relay. A failed relay will not close the circuit between the battery and the rest of the system. Even if you do hear a clicking noise, the relay may have only partially closed the circuit.

Other problems can also contribute to a starter system issue in your car. Whatever symptoms you notice, bring your car to Kell Radiator Service and tell us about them. We can run a full inspection to diagnose the exact problem and repair it. Contact us for a free estimate.