- 12/11/2024
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The function of the car's starter
The starter is a system found in all cars whose function is to start the engine when the key is turned in the ignition system, it is very important and the engine cannot be started if it is not present and the car is parked or if it suffers a malfunction.
Although it seems simple, the process of starting a car engine is a bit complicated or needs many components that must work together and at the same time for the engine to work, the engine does not only depend on the starter but on several other parts.
The starter system is an electrical circuit whose function is to start the car's engine, and this system can convert electrical energy from the battery into mechanical energy through the predecessor, which in turn uses this mechanical energy to rotate the engine to work quickly.
As for how the starter works, it has a small gear at one end that is connected to the engine, and when you turn the ignition key, this gear comes out very quickly and connects to the flywheel, which is basically connected to the engine directly.
When the predecessor rotates the flywheel, the engine will rotate with it and the cylinders will start moving up and down to directly receive the ignition spark, starting the engine's four strokes of intake, compression, explosion and finally exhaust.
As soon as one cylinder gets the spark, the engine will start immediately and the starter becomes unnecessary, and its gear will return to its place immediately, automatically in modern cars, or manually when the car key is released when the engine is started to return to its place automatically.
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Read more: Signs of a bad starter
The most important issues with the car's starter
There are several issues that accompany the damage and failure of the starter:
The engine won't start
If you turn the ignition key or press the starter button and the engine does not start and the battery and electrical systems in your car are intact, there is a high possibility that the starter is damaged, and the inability to start the engine has many causes, and the starter is one of the most important.
Intermittent starting of the starter
If it takes a few attempts to start the engine, but you do not hear a sound or any movement from the starter, this is a strong indication that it is broken or close to complete damage, and the reason for this issue is that the relay sends the electric current either completely to the predecessor or does not send anything at all, or the issue may be inside the starter itself and needs to be replaced.
Read more: Common cooling system problems
Crackling sound when starting the engine
If you hear a strong crackling sound when you start the engine and the engine cannot start, or it runs slowly, this is an indication that the starter is close to complete damage because it is no longer able to generate the force necessary to start the engine and rotate it through the flywheel.
Grinding sound
If the starter gear is worn out due to frequent use and the age of the car, it means that the contact between it and the flywheel will not be identical or balanced, and this will lead to the sound of grinding the gears when they contact each other, and you will hear this sound when you press the start button or turn the ignition key immediately, and ignoring this issue will lead to complete damage to the gear, and you will not be able to start the engine later.
Read more: The engine won't start but the battery is new
The starter still works
The duration for which the starter works does not exceed one to two seconds, because when its work ends and the engine starts, it returns to its place and its pinion will stop moving, but if the starter begins to wear and corrode, it may remain working, and the pinion turns even after starting the engine, and the reason may be a failure in the main contacts inside the solenoid of the starter.
Smoke when starting the engine
If you put an overpowered starter in your car, it will overheat and smoke during the engine starting process, and you will notice smoke coming out of the bottom of the engine, especially if there is an issue in connecting the starter to electricity, often the cause is a short circuit or faulty ignition switch, and if the smoke is accompanied by a burning smell, this is another very important and dangerous issue that you must find a solution to as soon as possible.
