Common Starter Problems

When the starter in your car goes out, it does not always need to be changed. Sometimes you can fix it yourself, saving you a lot of money. There are several reasons for a starter to have problems and most of them are caused by heat, or normal wear. We will discuss the main problems that happen with all starters, and explain what you can do to fix these issues.

Starter Solenoid

Heat is the main things that will make a starter go out. It is also what hurts the solenoid, which is the smaller piece on top of the starter that the wires hook to. Some engines (like on Fords) have the solenoid on the fender where it is easy to get to. Ford solenoids also last longer because they do not get hot like some of the others. Most of the heat that hurts the solenoid comes from the exhaust system, since the starter is usually very close to the exhaust pipes. To fix a solenoid issue, simply change it, which is fairly straightforward, though you will normally have to remove the starter to access it. Just make sure to hook the right wires back into the proper spots. Sometimes you can even take the solenoid apart, and flip the copper washer over. Then when you put it back together, the solenoid will be like brand new. Keep in mind you cannot do this to sealed type solenoids.

Starter Motor

The next main thing that hurts starters is normal wear and tear. After several years of starting your engine, the electrical contacts inside the starter motor get worn out. They are very easy to change, but you have to take the starter motor apart. The starter motor has 2 long bolts that you pull out, then you can remove the front piece of the starter. Once the front piece is off, you can pull the shaft out of the starter, and you will see the brushes in the back of the motor housing. Simply unscrew the cables on the brushes, and install new ones. Starter brushes are very cheap too. You can hold them in place with a toothpick, while you put the starter motor shaft back in.

Starter Bendix

Other than that, there is the bendix which is also easy to change, but you can usually just get by with cleaning it. The bendix is the piece that makes the starter gear pivot, so it moves in and out when it is supposed to. Any time you take a starter motor apart, and it has a solenoid on it, you have to remove the solenoid first!  By reading this article you now know what it takes to make the starter in your car work. Thanks for reading!