What are the symptoms of a car starter not turning?
2 Answers
When the car starter does not turn, the symptom is that the starter does not rotate when the ignition switch is turned to the start position. During the car starting process, to prevent the battery from experiencing excessive current or damage, the starting time should not exceed 5 seconds. If multiple starts are required, there should be intervals in between to avoid continuous ignition. The reasons for the starter not turning are as follows: 1. The battery has insufficient charge, or the connection terminals are loose or dirty, resulting in poor contact. 2. The starter switch contacts are burnt or fail to make contact. 3. The wiring between the starter and the relay is broken or the connections are loose. 4. The relay electromagnetic coil is short-circuited, open-circuited, or the relay contacts are burnt. 5. The electromagnetic switch coil is short-circuited, open-circuited, or the contact disc has poor contact.
I noticed that when the starter motor doesn't turn, turning the key to the start position yields no response at all. The car is eerily silent, the engine doesn't budge, and only the dashboard lights remain on as usual. No buzzing sound, no clicking noise—it's as if the starter motor has completely failed. I recall encountering this issue decades ago when driving older cars, especially noticeable during cold winters. Common causes included aging batteries or stuck starter relays. The symptom is the vehicle showing no response whatsoever, requiring you to step out and check for corrosion or loose connections on the battery terminals. It's advisable to regularly maintain the battery and not wait until the last minute to fix it, to avoid delays when you need to head out.
