How the Starter Works in Your Car ?

The starting and charging systems are two of the most important components of your vehicle they work together to start the engine and maintain power to electrical systems. The starting system consists of the Powerful DC (Direct Current) electric motor, and the attached solenoid. The solenoid is what takes battery power and delivers it to the starter motor. It also pushes the starter gear forward, allowing it to mesh with the gear teeth of the engine’s flywheel.

The starter motor is powered by the car battery. A high current is needed to start your car, so your battery should have sufficient power.Starting system problems are common and not all problems are caused by a faulty starter motor.But sometimes,when a car won’t start and the battery is fully charged, the starter motor is to blame. Starters do wear out.

How Starting System Works ?

When we want to start our cars engine it must be turned at some speed, so that it sucks fuel and air into the cylinders, and compresses it.The powerful electric starter motor does the turning. Its shaft carries a small pinion (gear wheel) which engages with a large gear ring around the rim of the engine flywheel.

When you turn the ignition key to the START position, the battery voltage goes through the starter control circuit and activates the starter solenoid, which in turn energizes the starter motor. At the same time, the starter solenoid pushes the starter gear forward to mesh it with the engine flywheel (flexplate in an automatic transmission). The flywheel is attached to the engine crankshaft. The starter motor spins, turning over the engine crankshaft allowing the engine to start.In a front-engine layout, the starter is mounted low down near the back of the engine.


Sometimes the starter cranks but the car won’t start but this might not be a starter problem. Most of the time, this is due to battery failure. Perhaps you left a light turned on, which caused the battery to drain. If the battery doesn’t have enough charge, you might hear clicking, or the starter might turn over slowly and then finally stop. You could have poor connections, corroded battery terminals, or simply a bad battery. Before you inspect the car starter, check your battery.