5 Symptoms of a Bad Starter!

Is your car struggling to start? The problem might just be with a bad starter. In today’s video, Zach explores everything you need to know about an engine’s starter - its fundamental role in your vehicle's operation and the common symptoms indicating it might be going bad. Perfect for both seasoned car enthusiasts and new drivers, this video breaks down one of the most crucial components under your hood. Join Zach as he dives into the world of vehicle starters, explaining how they work, why they're important, and how to recognize signs of trouble before it leads to a breakdown.
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00:12 - What is a Starter and How does it Work?
01:01 - Signs & Symptoms of a Failing Starter
01:07 - Symptom #1 of a Bad Starter - No Crank, No Start or Weak Crank
01:53 - Symptom #2 of a Failing Starter - Engine Clicking or Other Sounds
03:11 - Symptom #3 of a Bad Starter - No Electrical Problems
04:41 - Symptom #4 of a Failing Starter - Smoke or Burning Electrical Smells
05:51 - Symptom #5 of a Bad Starter - Visual Cues
06:53 - Jump Start Test: Battery vs Alternator vs Starter

[@Interestingstuff6909]

When Brushes wear out. You get the false flat battery syndrome with 1 or 2 brushes making contact, resulting in drawing more current.

[@8020Media]

I - Thanks for the insight.

[@Pressure404]

Thanks! this video was very helpful.👍

[@8020Media]

P - Thanks for the feedback. We hope it was helpful.

[@Thechroniclespodcast]

Great video bro💯💯💯

[@8020Media]

T - Thanks for the support! We don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

[@Thechroniclespodcast]

Keep going man!

[@8020Media]

T - Thanks for the support! We don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

[@Jestrda619]

Thanks you this video help out alot 🤙🏾

[@8020Media]

Jest - Thanks for the feedback! Hope it helps.

[@scothubbard5323]

Question for you. If you test the saterter and it tests good. Now remove the wire between the motor and solenoid. Re-energize the signal wire. Obviousluly.the motor won't run, but why doesn't the solenoid work and retract back and push out the drive? Solenoid will not respond without a the motor hooked up! Why? I think if you remove the solenoid from starter , ground at a mounting screw, apply constant 12v on battery + post on solenoid and energize signal wire. The solenoid should retract back! But they won't. Why not?

[@kennethcohagen3539]

Note: these notes will apply to American made cars from the early 60’s to the late 80’s, or 90’s. I left the Auto Parts industry at that time, working on my own cars only. I lost touch with the industry when I went back to school and became an engineering technician in electronics. When you hear a starter spinning and it doesn’t drop in RPM, the starter bendix is most likely the problem.the bendix is what engages with the flywheel. It is clutch driven, the clutch being like the one on a mini bike in that when it engages the flywheel and starter is spinning a sprang clutch makes the bendix spin in only one direction. If the bendix is bad it won’t drive the flywheel and allow the starter motor to spin free. If the bendix engages the flywheel gear and the motor spins but doesn’t have enough energy to turn the engine over, either you have a bad battery or a starter that is failing. In that case you can put a volt meter, ( or a multimeter set to dc volts from set at 20 volts or so), and have a friend crank the engine. Typically the voltage with drop to about 9 or 10. Lots while the starter is cranking. If it drops further and the battery load test fine, check the battery cables. If they show little to no resistance they are ok and the terminals are clean the starter is probably at fault. if it clicks either the battery voltage is too low to or is bad. If the battery load test good then the starter solenoid is suspect. On early GM engines the solenoid sits on the starter motor like the starters in the video, and they can be changed independent of the starter motor. Two screws and a tab are all the hold it in place. Some older solenoids had copper on both sides of the contact disc inside the solenoid. Since these are not available as rebuilt units I would take them apart and turn the contact disc around so that there are clean contact surfaces to transfer voltage to the starter motor. But before going nuts you can check the primary windings for continuity with a multimeter, or read the resistance of those windings. They are basically an electromagnet the pulls the piston attached to the starter bendix into the flywheel. If those windings have burned up the start will do nothing except help hold the front wheels on the ground. The assembly is basically dead weight until a new solenoid is installed. On Fords a separate solenoid is mounted on the Passenger side fender well and are easy to replace. Chrysler has their solenoid mounted internally. They are inside the starter. I’ve never bothered to replace those, but have seen very few failures because Chrysler start motors use gear reduction to ease the load on the starter motor, giving them an advantage over other brands.

[@8020Media]

Thanks for all the helpful additional color!

[@bleh2590]

This is why we should change parts accordingly to the manufacturer's manual. I couldn’t get to work today ToT

[@8020Media]

B - Sorry to hear about it man. What happened?

[@makavelifolkes3145]

Good at teaching

[@8020Media]

M - Thanks for the feedback! We hope it was helpful.

[@rommelvazquez-rubio3294]

I have a Pontiac and just recently it started struggling to fire up. Sometimes it starts up fine but once it turn it off and try again it cranks and won’t turn on. It fires up after a few attempts. Any advice on what it could be?

[@8020Media]

R - We have a video on this that we think may be helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoq1la2Al62Wo5Y

[@tek512]

Got a problem with my truck struggling to start. Sometimes it fires up fine, other times it struggles but starts. Last night it failed entirely to start - it *almost* started on attempt 1, but attempts 2 and 3 produced a single click. It then started flawlessly after sitting for about five minutes, but the check engine light was suddenly on. I'm willing to bet money the light will be off tomorrow when I start it up, if it starts at all. I experience no problems with the vehicle's other electrical systems at any point during these incidents.

[@8020Media]

If it's cranking and almost starting then the issue isn't the starter. Starter would give you a no crank issue. So you either have an issue with your fuel system or the ignition system.

[@8020Media]

Read the codes when they show up and see what they are. Might be stored even if the engine light doesn't appear.

[@tek512]

@@8020Media Since the other night, the engine has started just fine every single time. Unfortunately, when it started working again, it also suddenly kicked on the check engine light. I pulled the code, and it's for the ignition control module. You called it.

[@8020Media]

T - Keep us updated!

[@gucciano7416]

My 2002 envoy, cranks but doesn’t turn over and starts. All my lights works, radio, windows. Any thoughts ?

[@8020Media]

O - This video may be useful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoq1la2Al62Wo5Y

[@ReptilesXtremeGaming]

When I try to start my Chevy I hear a weird low whirring and it dies out. I’ve switched out all the cartridge fuses and mini blade fuses. Replaced the battery. But I still can’t get it to start. So I’m assuming it’s the starter?

[@8020Media]

Rep - That's what we're thinking.

[@gruvygraphics9984]

I did a multimeter test on the starter and it passed the test but these symptoms do sound like my starter failed. only getting one click and wont start with a jump. brand new battery but have a p1701 power supply circuit error code

[@8020Media]

G - This video may be helpful with your research: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoq1la2Al62Wo5Y

[@beachgamer3983]

Running into an issue where the car struggles to start and when it does start and I drive around for 30 min turn it off I gotta wait an hour or so before the car starts again any thoughts?

[@8020Media]

B - This video will likely be helpful for this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWmTfZaYZcSUfbs

[@annacouch6271]

I’m getting all my lights and radio turn on but when I turn my key to start nothing happens at all no noise nothing, but my car has been starting no problems at all and this morning it just didn’t start, can a starter just die out of nowhere?

[@8020Media]

It could for sure if the solenoid seized up or something. But I wouldn't jump to that conclusion very quickly...check the basics...I'd start with looking at the fuses and checking the battery.

[@journeemorrison]

mine is doing the same thing at the moment. what did you do to help it start back up?

[@teeteewest7058]

My car won’t start unless I jump start it then it will start up just fine for the rest of the day but the locks on my keys sometimes won’t work that’s how I know my car is not going to start but if the lock button on my keys unlock my doors than I know my car is going to start what could that be or mean?

[@8020Media]

Tee - This is most likely a bad battery. You can go to an autozone or any other car shop to get a free battery test. Keep us updated.

[@abigailgonzales9154]

Same!

[@delboy134]

i get the clicking noise when the choke is on so i cant start it on choke,it takes two goes but it does fire up.Is it the starter motor thats at fault?

[@8020Media]

D - We have a video that we think will be helpful for you here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYC6ZoWidtCkn5Y

[@real_inIRL]

My 2006 impala struggles to start but has power. Once the car is running it has no problems but the moment I turn the car off & try to turn it back on it’ll give me issues. Sometimes it won’t turn on sometimes it’ll turn on slowly after holding the key for a slight longer.

[@8020Media]

R - We think this video will help with your research: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoq1la2Al62Wo5Y

[@Supremebean303]

My ranger just had a new starter installed and it cranked up stronger than before. Now, it won’t crank at all then out of nowhere will start. Took a mallet and tapped the starter and kicked back up. Could it be something else?

[@8020Media]

S - How's your battery?

[@Supremebean303]

@@8020Media it’s new and it’s not the alternator otherwise accessories would flash in and out or die while driving.

[@8020Media]

S - Here's a video that may be helpful with your research: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoq1la2Al62Wo5Y

[@Rxamos]

i should’ve tried the battery test cause my car has trouble starting on the first start of the day but once it’s heated up it has no trouble starting just like if it had no issues so probably is a battery

[@8020Media]

Aero - Sounds like a potential battery issue!

[@wongeric7157]

Hi, I having this symptom click sound no crank and all lights on dash is working. It crank and start normally but click no crank occasionally. Replace solenoid, solenoid relay, rewiring and new battery. It crank few second before it start even with new battery could it be starter is failing?

[@8020Media]

Clicking is usually the battery not having enough voltage. Try starting it with it on a battery charger or jumping it. If it has a really weak crank then it could be your starter motor is on its way out and is weak. But if the crank is strong and then just dies off in a few seconds it sounds like a battery related issue

[@wongeric7157]

@@8020Media I found out it could be faulty AT Case transmission switch (neutral safety switch). Sometimes it is able to start on Park. Otherwise it only able to start when either I shift from Park to Reverse and back to Park or Park to Neutral shift.

[@user-zv4jg9sp8d]

My 2019 gmc seirra I making a bad grinding sound but kicks in and starts but all power works fine is it my starter you think?? I bought one but now thinking it might not be the starter, please someone help

[@8020Media]

W - Have you had it looked at by a mechanic?

[@user-zv4jg9sp8d]

@@8020Media no not yet I'm just trying to figure out if it's the starter because I can do that myself, but everything else is working fine batterie is good just like a long grinding sound but will fire up after like 8 trys sounds rough but when it's started no more noise only when I go to turn the key all the way over

[@8020Media]

W - We think this video will help you out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoq1la2Al62Wo5Y

[@trejones5965]

I need help I’m on my second battery since February and it’s already bad not to mention I’ve replaced my alternator which was burnt now idk what the issue with my battery

[@8020Media]

T - Have you had your engine looked at?

[@siraurice]

My car won’t start at all. I tried to get a jump and it came on but the car never started just clicked over and over. When I took the cables off it just did start not even the lights came on

[@8020Media]

S - sounds like a battery issue. Have you checked the battery?

[@Proscalecrawler]

What if it does not start, and I’m getting trouble codes pointing to crank shaft sensor errors?

[@cornell833]

Change the crank sensor

[@Proscalecrawler]

@@cornell833 man just changed the crank shaft sensor and still no start & same codes

[@cornell833]

@@Proscalecrawler what codes all do you get ?

[@8020Media]

P - We have a video that we think will be helpful. We second Cornell, what other codes do you have? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoq1la2Al62Wo5Y

[@growthpromotions]

Your engine might be siezed. Something internal damaged or bent. Check to see if you can turn your crankshaft manually.

[@mariecat07]

Ok, so what if I have a new battery and a rebuilt alternator. I just had an entire engine overhaul, fixed a bunch of things, replaced all belts and hoses. Lubricants, fluids flushed and replaced. I drove 300 miles yesterday, stopped a few times, everything running great, and then 1 hour left of my drive to get me home, I stopped at a rest area for 20 minutes or so, went to start the car and it tried to turn over, heard some clicks, tried again a second time, then just clicks, and then tried a third time, then nothing. Someone jumped my car, started up immediately, I drove 7 miles to the closest hotel, turned off the car, then tried again, and same thing. Then this morning, got it jumped again, drove the rest of the way to my house, drove line a champ, got home, pulled into the garage, turned off the truck. Tried to start it again, and same thing again. Tried to turn over, and couldn't. I'm so confused. Brand New battery, rebuilt alternator... I'm thinking starter?

[@mariecat07]

Oh, all electrical working just fine too

[@8020Media]

M - So sorry to hear about your experience.. Our initial thoughts would be a starter, but we have a video on hard starts/no starts that may also be helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoq1la2Al62Wo5Y

[@TheDanson000]

With my Outlander all I hear is a spinning sound.

[@8020Media]

D - If it's when you're trying to turn the engine on, we have a video for this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoq1la2Al62Wo5Y

[@TDace25]

Pretty sure I have a starter issue with a weak crank? Twice in the last 3 days my car has failed to start until the third attempt. Worker normally on probably 5 others start ups

[@8020Media]

T - We think this video may be helpful for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoq1la2Al62Wo5Y

[@Thechroniclespodcast]

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@8020Media]

T - Thanks for the support! We don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

[@hughbunyea4703]

My car wont start and the starter would continue to turn 4 orn5 after i turned the key backnto accessory mode. I replaced the start and it still does the same thing

[@8020Media]

H - We think this video may be helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoq1la2Al62Wo5Y