Basically, your car’s starter is a tiny motor that gets your engine running. This auto part gets its power from the vehicle’s battery. Battery power travels through a starter relay to fire up the starter motor, which, in turn, fires up your automobile’s motor. Willoughby Hills Auto Repair cautions that if the starter or its relay is bad, you won’t be able to get your automobile started even with the jump. Here are signs your starter is going bad.
Clicking Sounds
The most common sign of a bad starter is hearing clicking when you try to start your automobile. It’s not guaranteed that you will hear clicking sounds before your starter dies; some starters die without any warning. If you do hear clicking or whirring when you try to start your car, however, your starter is going bad. Starting your automobile should be silent except for the engine firing up.
Electrical Power
If, when you start your car, the dashboard lights come on and you have headlights, you are getting power from the battery. If the starter is dead, however, you won’t be able to actually start your car. This is a sign that points directly to the starter. The battery and alternator are sending electricity to your dashboard and headlights, so they are likely not the reason why you can’t get your vehicle started.
Dead Engine
A dead engine that won’t respond to a jumpstart points the finger to the starter, but it’s important to understand that in severe cases of battery or alternator failure, a jumpstart might not start your engine. This being said, if your battery is only a few years old and you can’t get a jumpstart to work, chances are the problem lies with your engine starter and not the battery.
Engine Smoke
If you keep trying to start your car to no avail, you may overheat the starter motor and you will see smoke coming out of your engine. At first, you might not be able to see the smoke, but you will smell something hot. At this point, stop trying to start your car. Anytime you smell something hot or see smoke, you could have a dangerous situation brewing underneath the hood.
Oil Leaks
Finally, because of where the starter is located in your vehicle’s motor, an oil leak can actually cause the starter damage. The starter is usually found on the driver’s side of your engine underneath the cylinders. If oil is leaking from the cylinders, it cannot only saturate the starter and cause it to malfunction, but it is also a sign of serious engine damage.
Where will you find the best auto repair shop in Willoughby Hills, OH? Right here at Willoughby Hills Auto Repair. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment if you think your starter is going bad.