Cranking an engine with a starter puts the following into play:
Cylinders draw in air and fuel mixture
Air and fuel mixture is compressed
Ignition occurs either due to a spark or heat of compression
Engine starts running and no longer needs the starter to crank it
When the starter turns too slowly – or if it doesn’t crank at all – the engine simply won’t start.
What can cause a starter to fail?
In order for a starter to get an engine running, it needs to be able to crank the engine at an adequate rpm.
And in order for it to do that, it needs the correct voltage and amperage which can only be supplied if:
The cranking battery is in good condition and fully charged
The various battery and cable connections are in good condition
The starter has a good ground connection
All electrical cables are in good condition and not corroded
Any of these issues can cause slow or no cranking which will not start the engine. They can even cause internal damage to the starter.
If nothing happens when the ignition switch is set in the start position, it could signal a variety of issues with a variety of components:
Starter motor has failed completely
Open circuits in the ignition or starter circuit wiring
Transmission linkage has a neutral safety switch and the vehicle is not in neutral or the switch is faulty
Other causes of no cranking can be a compromised solenoid, loose or corroded battery cables or even a low or dead battery.
Things you should check
Before determining if you need a new or replacement starter from Elreg Distributors, make sure you check and inspect these elements (in the order presented here):
Battery: This should be the first thing you look at. Make certain the battery has enough voltage power to turn on the starter. A battery with no juice (or extremely sulfated) can’t generate the volts or amps needed to start the engine.
Cable and Connections: Your battery can be in excellent condition and your starter perfectly fine, however if the cables and connections in between aren’t good, you’re still going to have a problem. Make sure connections are all solid and there is no corrosion. Also make sure that the cables are not corroded inside.
Something else you should look at is the cranking speed.
Usually, an engine cranks at around 200-250 rpm. If your engine cranks at that speed but doesn’t start, there’s a good chance your starter and starting circuit is okay.
One more test you can perform is a no-load free running test. Here’s how to run it:
Remove the starter from the vehicle
Support the starter in a large bench vice
Use a battery & jumper cables to power the starter
Hook the negative cable to the starter housing & the positive cable to the positive lead
Jumper the battery positive terminal to the solenoid ignition terminal
Most starter motors spin around 2500-3000 rpm.
If yours turns slowly or not at all, you need a new starter.
A bad solenoid can cause starter problems
A solenoid relays the power from the starter to the battery. Depending on your set up, the solenoid can be mounted on the starter or somewhere else in the engine area.
Corrosion, poor grounding at the solenoid mount or substandard battery connections will keep the solenoid from performing.
In this instance, replacing the solenoid is required if it’s defective or stuck in an open/closed position.
Starter problem & solution table
As mentioned throughout this blog, a faulty starter can be caused by many factors.
This handy table below provides a quick glance at symptoms, causes and actions required to fix common starter problems.
Issue
Possible Causes
Potential Solutions
Engine does not crank
Dead battery
Melted fusible links
Loose connections
Faulty ignition switch
Faulty magnetic switch, relay, neutral start switch or clutch switch
Mechanical problem in engine
Problem in car alarm system
Check battery charging state
Replace fusible link
Clean and tighten connections
Check and replace switch operation
Check engine
Check service manual for system tests
Engine cranks too slowly to initiate start
Weak battery
Loose or corroded connections
Faulty starter motor
Mechanical issues with engine or starter
Check and charge battery
Clean and tighten connections
Test the starter
Inspect engine and starter and replace worn out parts
Starter does not stop running
Damaged pinion or ring gear
Faulty plunger in magnetic switch
Poor ignition switch or control circuit
Ignition key keeps binding
Check gears for wear and tear
Test starter pull-in and hold-in coils
Check switch and circuit elements
Check key for damage
Starter spins, engine does not crank
Faulty over-running clutch
Damaged or worn pinion gear or ring gear
Inspect for over-running during proper operation
Check gears and replace as needed
Starter does not engage or disengage as it should
Malfunctioning magnetic switch
Damaged or worn pinion gear or ring gear
Bench test the starter
Check gears and replace as needed
Come to us for all your starter needs
Whether you need complete starter units or repair kits for your fleet, Elreg has the products, services and expertise to see you through.
