What are the Signs of a Starter Going Bad?
If you’ve driven a car for very long, you have probably experienced starting problems at some point in time. Your car could start just fine one day, and the next it won’t start at all. You may be wondering what are the signs of a starter going bad? Watch out for these warning signs:
- Your car cranks slowly or won’t start at all.
- Starting problem is intermittent.
- You hear grinding noise when starting the car.
- The lights go dim as you start the car.
- The starter is soaked with oil resulting in a burning smell or smoke.
- The starter was not installed properly.
The starter system was designed for repeated use under a variety of weather and road conditions, up to at least 100,000 miles if not for the entire life of the car. However, the wear and tear of daily use as the miles add up, extreme driving conditions, and poor maintenance can all create starting problems.
Before replacing the starter, however, head to your auto shop and have the alternators and battery checked out. They could actually be the culprit of your starting problems. Once these components have been ruled out, the starter is more than likely the cause of your starting problem. There are several things that can fail:
- The brushes, gears, and coil windings within the starter are worn,
- The solenoid has gone bad, or
- Loose bolts don’t allow the starter to engage when the key is turned in the ignition.
A word of advice: If your car cranks hard, but doesn’t actually start, don’t keep forcing it could cause the problem to get a lot worse.
Need to know more about what are the signs of a starter going bad? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about batteries, starters, and alternators and to schedule an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
If you’ve driven a car for very long, you have probably experienced starting problems at some point in time. Your car could start just fine one day, and the next it won’t start at all. You may be wondering what are the signs of a starter going bad? Watch out for these warning signs:
- Your car cranks slowly or won’t start at all.
- Starting problem is intermittent.
- You hear grinding noise when starting the car.
- The lights go dim as you start the car.
- The starter is soaked with oil resulting in a burning smell or smoke.
- The starter was not installed properly.
The starter system was designed for repeated use under a variety of weather and road conditions, up to at least 100,000 miles if not for the entire life of the car. However, the wear and tear of daily use as the miles add up, extreme driving conditions, and poor maintenance can all create starting problems.
Before replacing the starter, however, head to your auto shop and have the alternators and battery checked out. They could actually be the culprit of your starting problems. Once these components have been ruled out, the starter is more than likely the cause of your starting problem. There are several things that can fail:
- The brushes, gears, and coil windings within the starter are worn,
- The solenoid has gone bad, or
- Loose bolts don’t allow the starter to engage when the key is turned in the ignition.
A word of advice: If your car cranks hard, but doesn’t actually start, don’t keep forcing it could cause the problem to get a lot worse.
Need to know more about what are the signs of a starter going bad? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about batteries, starters, and alternators and to schedule an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
