How Do You Know Your Car Starter Is Bad? Watch for These Signs!

Have you ever encountered this embarrassing situation? You get in the car, turn the key, and the engine doesn't respond! Is there something wrong with the starter? Don't worry, today we will talk about how long a car starter lasts, how to judge how you know your car starter is bad, and if it is broken, how to start a car with a bad starter. At the end of the article, there is a money-saving and worry-free aftermarket shopping secret, a must-read for car lovers!

 

How Long Does a Car Starter Last?

Generally speaking, the life of a car starter is about 5-7 years or 80,000-150,000 miles. But this time is not absolute. There are many factors that affect the life of the starter, such as:

1. Driving habits

Frequent starting of the vehicle or too much short-distance driving will accelerate the wear of the starter. This is because frequent short-distance driving will cause the motor to not have enough time to dissipate heat, and the internal coil will age easily.

 

2. Weather factors

Extremely high or low-temperature environments will cause the starter to age prematurely.

 

3. Ignition habits

"Twist the key for 5 seconds without letting go" party, please note! Each start for more than 3 seconds will cause the motor to overload. The correct posture is: push-to-start, 2-3 seconds each time, and try again after 10 seconds.

 

If your Chevy Tahoe has more than 100,000 miles on it and has recently been having trouble starting, it's time to consider a Chevy Tahoe starter replacement!

 

How Do You Know Your Car Starter Is Bad?

When there is a problem with the starter, the car will not be without signs. The following signs all indicate that your starter is on the verge of "strike":

1. Only "click" sound when igniting

If you only hear a "click" sound when you turn the key or press the start button. The engine does not turn, it is likely that the starter is damaged. Of course, it may also be that the battery is low. It is recommended to check the battery before making a judgment.

 

2. Insufficient power at start or intermittent start failure

If your car can start sometimes and sometimes cannot start, it means that the internal contact points of the starter have aged. This situation will only get worse and worse until it cannot start at all.

 

3. The engine speed is very slow at start

If the engine speed of your car slows down significantly when starting, it means that the internal gears or motor of the starter are damaged.

 

4. There is a burning smell or smoke at start

Don't try to start at this time. Please disconnect the battery immediately! This may be a precursor to the motor coil burning.

 

If your Dodge Ram is experiencing these symptoms, it's time for a Dodge Ram starter replacement. MyMROmarts offers quality aftermarket starter motors at affordable prices for a wide range of models, making your car look like new again!

 

How to Start a Car with a Bad Starter?

What if your starter is broken and you need to use the car urgently? Here are a few emergency methods that may help you temporarily start the car:

 

Method 1: Tap the starter

1. Open the engine compartment and find the engine starter motor (usually near the gearbox)

2. Tap the housing 2-3 times with a screwdriver or wrench

3. Immediately return to the driver's seat and try to start the car

This method is suitable for situations where the carbon brushes inside the starter are worn and cause poor contact. The principle of this method is that vibration may allow the worn carbon brushes to re-contact the rotor.

 

Method 2: Try to push start the car (applicable to manual transmission)

If your car is a manual transmission, you can try the push start method:

1. Shift to 2nd gear and step on the clutch

2. Accelerate the car to 8-10km/h

3. Quickly release the clutch and lightly step on the accelerator

This allows the engine to start with the kinetic energy of the wheels, but this method only applies to manual transmission models.

 

Method 3: Check the battery and the connections-start wires

Sometimes, the starter does not work because the battery voltage is insufficient or the connection wires are loose. Try to check the battery with a voltmeter. If the voltage is less than 12V, you can try to start it by connecting it to the battery of another car with a jumper wire.

 

But please note that these methods are only emergency measures and cannot solve the fundamental problem. The best way is to replace the starter motor as soon as possible! MyMROmarts provides a variety of car starter motors. Come and see if there is a model suitable for your car!

 

The starter is a very important component in the car's starting system. Once damaged, the car will be completely unable to move. Therefore, car owners must pay attention to the service life of the starter and pay attention to abnormal performance when the vehicle is started to avoid affecting normal travel.