Without a functioning starter motor, you will be unable to fire up your automobile. Mike’s Auto Service & Repair advises that the starter works in tandem with the alternator and battery to start your engine. Most starters last the lifetime of your vehicle, but if you drive a high-mileage automobile, your starter may go out. The starter generally dies after you have driven 100,000 to 150,000 miles. We are going to talk about the symptoms of a bad starter below.
You Can’t Start Your Car…
As we mentioned above, the starter motor fires up your engine. Without a functioning starter, you will be unable to get your car started. At first, you might think that the problem is the battery. If you jump-start the battery and your car still won’t start, this is an indication that the starter is the problem.
…But the Lights Work
Another indication that the starter is the problem is if your lights work even though you cannot get your car, truck, or utility vehicle started. If the lights are working, there is electricity running through your automobile. In other words, your battery is charged in the alternator is working. Always keep in mind that if you have a dead engine but working lights the starter is likely the problem.
The Ominous Clicking Sound
You may have heard about the ominous clicking sound. This is a sound that the starter makes when the motor is on its last leg. You will hear this sound when you try to start your automobile. In some cases, your car, truck, or utility vehicle will start eventually. In other cases, it won’t start at all. Either way, the clicking sound points to the starter rather than the battery or the alternator.
You See and/or Smell Smoke
Whether you hear a clicking sound or not, continuing to attempt to start your vehicle will only overheat the starter motor. When this happens, it starts to smoke. You may smell something hot and see smoke wafting from underneath your hood. Don’t keep trying to get your car to start. It won’t.
You’ve Got an Oil Leak
Finally, your starter motor may be okay until such time as it is soaked by oil from an oil leak. The starter is located under the left cylinder block. If this block springs an oil leak, the starter will get saturated with the motor oil and it will fail. This is the least of your worries. A leaking cylinder block is a huge problem.
Call Mike’s Auto Service & Repair in West Springfield, MA, today if you believe your starter is going bad.
