What to Do When the Starter Doesn't Work?
2 Answers
The main reasons for the starter not working are: insufficient battery charge, and excessive resistance caused by poor wiring or connections, leading to reduced current. Here are the diagnostic methods for a non-working starter: 1. Use a conductor to bridge the two terminals on the starter switch. If the starter speed increases significantly, it indicates poor contact at the starter switch contacts, increasing resistance. If the starter speed does not change, check if the battery is sufficiently charged, if the brushes are excessively worn, or if the brush spring is too weak. 2. Local short circuits in the starter's armature coil or field coil can also cause the starter to lose power. Carefully inspect the starter circuit wires and connections. Poor wiring and loose, corroded connections will heat up due to increased resistance. 3. Mechanical faults inside the starter can also affect its normal operation. If the power supply, starter circuit, and starter switch are all intact, check for issues like friction between the armature and magnetic poles. 4. Under low-temperature conditions, the internal resistance of the battery increases, the terminal voltage drops, and engine resistance rises, which can also lead to symptoms of a weak starter.
When the starter doesn't work, I usually start checking from the simple things first, because experience tells me that most cases are caused by battery issues. Try listening for a clicking sound when attempting to start the car—if there's a sound but the car doesn't move, it might be a starter motor problem, such as a stuck gear. If there's no sound at all, it's more likely a dead battery. I would check if the headlights turn on and if the dashboard displays normally. If they don't, the probability of a drained battery is high. You can use jumper cables connected to another car to start it, or check for corroded or loose wiring, which can interrupt the current flow. If the parking spot is safe, handle it there; otherwise, pull over and turn on the hazard lights. I test the battery voltage every six months to prevent such incidents, especially in winter when batteries are prone to aging. Once, I forgot to turn off the interior light, which drained the battery—a lesson learned, and since then, I've made it a habit to check and turn off all electrical devices. In short, don’t panic; if simple troubleshooting doesn’t work, seek professional repair.
