What are the reasons for the starter's failure to operate?
3 Answers
The reasons for the starter's failure to operate are: 1. Severe battery depletion, sulfation, short circuit, or damage to the main power switch; 2. Loose or poor contact of terminal post wires; 3. Loose or detached engine grounding wire; 4. Poor contact between the commutator and brushes or grounding of insulated brushes; 5. Damage to the field winding or armature winding; 6. Open circuit in the pull-in coil or hold-in coil of the electromagnetic switch, or poor contact of the switch contact disc. The method for direct starting of the starter is: 1. The starting time should not exceed 5 seconds, and after starting, idle for 2 minutes to allow the battery to recover; 2. Keep the battery warm when starting in low temperatures to ensure sufficient starting capacity.
I've been fixing cars for over 20 years, and starter failure issues are quite common. The most frequent causes are dead batteries or loose connections - when battery power is insufficient, the starter won't budge at all. You can first check if headlights appear dim or the horn sounds weak. Another major culprit is starter motor failure itself, such as burnt-out motors, stuck solenoid switches, or worn gears, especially in older vehicles. Failed relays are another common issue - these components responsible for transmitting current will interrupt signals when malfunctioning. Wiring problems like short circuits, broken wires, or corrosion can disrupt electrical flow. Worn ignition switches may fail to deliver signals to the starter. Sometimes anti-theft systems may falsely trigger and lock the starting circuit. I recommend car owners regularly test battery voltage with a multimeter, maintaining at least 12V; when issues arise, avoid forcing attempts and seek professional repair promptly to prevent further component damage. Routine maintenance focusing on battery and wiring cleanliness can prevent many such troubles.
As an ordinary car owner, I was really panicked when my car wouldn't start last time. Later I learned there are various reasons why the starter won't turn. Battery issues are the prime suspect - low charge or oxidized terminals can cause insufficient current. Internal starter problems like burnt motor coils or jammed gears can also make it fail. Blown fuses are common - check the corresponding headlight or starter fuse in the fuse box. Poor wiring connections, such as loose plugs or aged/broken wires, can interrupt the circuit. Relay failures prevent signal transmission - you might hear clicking but get no response. The anti-theft system locking up could also prevent starting. In my case, I called a friend for a jump start and found it was just a dead battery. I recommend keeping an emergency power source in your car and regularly checking the maintenance manual, rather than scrambling when problems arise.
