What Are the Causes of Weak Car Starter Performance?
2 Answers
Reasons for weak car starter performance: 1. Power cable failure: Check the battery capacity and the connection of power cables; 2. Battery depletion: Ensure the battery has sufficient capacity and the wiring connections are good; 3. Short circuit or open circuit in the solenoid hold-in coil: Short-circuit the two main terminals of the starter solenoid switch. If the starter operates normally, it indicates a short circuit or open circuit in the solenoid hold-in coil; 4. Poor contact between the main contacts and contact disc in the solenoid switch: Use a metal strip to short-circuit the two main terminals of the starter solenoid switch. If the starter performs strongly after short-circuiting, it indicates poor contact between the main contacts and contact disc in the solenoid switch; 5. Excessive wear of starter brushes or weak brush springs.
Last time my car made a clicking noise and lacked power when starting, turns out it was a buildup of small issues. First, the battery terminals were oxidized, with green corrosion covering the contact points causing poor conductivity. Then, checking the fuse box revealed a 15A fuse in the starting circuit had blown—replacing it only cost a few bucks. Remember to also check the starter relay contacts; if those are burnt out, they can weaken the current. The most troublesome is the starter motor itself—if the carbon brushes are worn down or the copper sleeves are damaged, the mechanic said the whole unit needs replacing. Oh, and this issue is especially common on rainy days—moisture getting into the wiring connectors causes poor contact. A quick fix is spraying WD-40 on the connectors and wiping them dry.
