7 Symptoms of the Car Starter Going Bad!
So your car wouldn't start this morning and you’re wondering about the symptoms of the car starter going bad. The starter system is meant to be durable--designed for repeated use under a variety of weather and road conditions. But the wear and tear of daily use, extreme conditions, and poor maintenance can all create problems. There are several symptoms that can indicate a bad or failing starter—many of which can also be caused by the alternator or the battery.
Here are seven symptoms of the car starter going bad:
- Your vehicle cranks slowly or labors to crank when starting.
- Your vehicle won’t start.
- You have intermittent starting problems.
- Your interior lights dim when you try to start the car.
- You hear a grinding noise when the car is starting or running.
- A burning smell or smoke is coming from underneath the engine.
- Your starter is soaked with oil.
However, it may be that your starting problem may not be the starter. It could be that the battery is the culprit. It may not be packing enough juice to start your vehicle, or maybe you left your headlights on all night. Or maybe the battery is just old and needs to be replaced.
Or, your starting problem could be the alternator not doing its job of keeping the battery charged. One sign that the alternator is shot is the warning light on your instrument panel that typically looks like a car battery. If that light is on, your alternator is not working, and your vehicle is running strictly off the battery.
Even if you’re only having occasional starting problems, you should get your car checked out as soon as possible before the problem gets worse and leaves you stranded in your driveway or on the side of the road.
Want to know more about the symptoms of the car starter going bad? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Cannon Auto Repair today for more information about starters and alternators and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Cannon Falls, MN, and the surrounding areas.
About the Author
So your car wouldn't start this morning and you’re wondering about the symptoms of the car starter going bad. The starter system is meant to be durable--designed for repeated use under a variety of weather and road conditions. But the wear and tear of daily use, extreme conditions, and poor maintenance can all create problems. There are several symptoms that can indicate a bad or failing starter—many of which can also be caused by the alternator or the battery.
Here are seven symptoms of the car starter going bad:
- Your vehicle cranks slowly or labors to crank when starting.
- Your vehicle won’t start.
- You have intermittent starting problems.
- Your interior lights dim when you try to start the car.
- You hear a grinding noise when the car is starting or running.
- A burning smell or smoke is coming from underneath the engine.
- Your starter is soaked with oil.
However, it may be that your starting problem may not be the starter. It could be that the battery is the culprit. It may not be packing enough juice to start your vehicle, or maybe you left your headlights on all night. Or maybe the battery is just old and needs to be replaced.
Or, your starting problem could be the alternator not doing its job of keeping the battery charged. One sign that the alternator is shot is the warning light on your instrument panel that typically looks like a car battery. If that light is on, your alternator is not working, and your vehicle is running strictly off the battery.
Even if you’re only having occasional starting problems, you should get your car checked out as soon as possible before the problem gets worse and leaves you stranded in your driveway or on the side of the road.
Want to know more about the symptoms of the car starter going bad? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Cannon Auto Repair today for more information about starters and alternators and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Cannon Falls, MN, and the surrounding areas.
About the Author
