What Happens When Your Starter Goes Bad?
If your vehicle is starting to have starting problems, ask your mechanic to inspect your entire starting system, which includes the ignition switch, a neutral safety switch, the starter solenoid, the starter motor, and the car battery. How can you know what is the cause of your starting problems? If you understand what happens when your starter goes bad, you have made the first step in pinpointing the problem.
Even though the starter system is designed to withstand a variety of weather and road conditions, the wear and tear of daily use, extreme conditions and poor maintenance can all create problems.
First, your mechanic will rule out what “isn’t” the problem, such as the battery or the alternator. Your starting problem may not be the starter at all. Your battery may be getting old and not able to hold a charge. Or maybe you left your headlights on all night. Or, the alternator may be starting to fail and cannot keep the battery charged. Do you see a warning light on your instrument panel in the shape of a car battery? If you do, your alternator is not working and your vehicle is probably running off just the battery until it uses up its stored power.
Now that you have ruled out the battery and the alternator, you need to know what happens when your starter goes bad. There are several signs to watch for:
- Vehicle cranks slowly or works hard to crank.
- Vehicle won’t start at all.
- Starting problems are off and on.
- The interior lights dim when you try to start the car.
- You can hear grinding noise when the car is starting or running.
- A burning smell or smoke is coming from underneath the hood.
- The starter is soaked with oil.
Don’t wait to get stranded somewhere before having your starting system checked out—even if your problems are intermittent.
Need to know more about what happens when your starter goes bad? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Cannon Auto Repair for more information about alternators, starters, and batteries, and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Cannon Falls, MN, and the surrounding areas.
About the Author
If your vehicle is starting to have starting problems, ask your mechanic to inspect your entire starting system, which includes the ignition switch, a neutral safety switch, the starter solenoid, the starter motor, and the car battery. How can you know what is the cause of your starting problems? If you understand what happens when your starter goes bad, you have made the first step in pinpointing the problem.
Even though the starter system is designed to withstand a variety of weather and road conditions, the wear and tear of daily use, extreme conditions and poor maintenance can all create problems.
First, your mechanic will rule out what “isn’t” the problem, such as the battery or the alternator. Your starting problem may not be the starter at all. Your battery may be getting old and not able to hold a charge. Or maybe you left your headlights on all night. Or, the alternator may be starting to fail and cannot keep the battery charged. Do you see a warning light on your instrument panel in the shape of a car battery? If you do, your alternator is not working and your vehicle is probably running off just the battery until it uses up its stored power.
Now that you have ruled out the battery and the alternator, you need to know what happens when your starter goes bad. There are several signs to watch for:
- Vehicle cranks slowly or works hard to crank.
- Vehicle won’t start at all.
- Starting problems are off and on.
- The interior lights dim when you try to start the car.
- You can hear grinding noise when the car is starting or running.
- A burning smell or smoke is coming from underneath the hood.
- The starter is soaked with oil.
Don’t wait to get stranded somewhere before having your starting system checked out—even if your problems are intermittent.
Need to know more about what happens when your starter goes bad? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Cannon Auto Repair for more information about alternators, starters, and batteries, and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Cannon Falls, MN, and the surrounding areas.
About the Author
