If you’re having trouble getting your car started, the cause can be many things, from the battery to the alternator to spark plugs to starter and more. There are some ways that you can make an educated guess about the trouble. But if you live in Encinitas, Escondido, or Temecula, and you want to be sure, bring your vehicle into Premier Chevrolet of Carlsbad and have our technicians check it out and run a diagnostic test. First let’s learn a little about your starter so you can at least know what to tell the technicians when you bring it in for starter service.
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Your vehicle’s starter is a motor within a motor that is powered by the battery. Its function is to get your car, truck, SUV, or minivan started. Between the battery and the starter motor is the starter relay that delivers power. If the starter relay or the starter are not functioning properly, your vehicle will not start and you’ll need a tow.
How to Know If There is a Problem with the Starter
Some common signs and symptoms that may tip you off to a starter issue:
Unusual Sounds: One of the most telltale signs of a bad starter is a clicking noise when you turn the key or press the ignition button to start your vehicle. If you here clicks, it is likely because something is wrong. Sometimes it doesn’t make any sound at all. It can also die with a loud fuss too, like grinding or whirring sounds.
Lights are on, but no power: You try to start the car and dashboard lights come on, but the engine doesn’t fire up.
Your engine won’t crank up: You try to start it and you get nothing, so you try to jump and there is still nothing. If a jump won’t work, you’ll need a technician to figure out the problem. You may need to get your vehicle towed into Premier Chevrolet of Carlsbad to have your vehicle’s starter system assessed.
Smoking: If you try over and over again to get your car started and you see smoke ushering out of the engine compartment, stop. Your starter system is an electrical system, and it can be prone to short circuits and blown fuses. Your repeated attempts to start your vehicle may have resulted in shorting out the relay or burning up the starter motor.
Drowning in Oil:
In a RWD vehicle, your starter is likely on the passenger side below the exhaust manifold.
In a FWD vehicle, your starter is likely on the driver’s side above the transmission or beneath the exhaust manifold. On some FWD vehicles, they may be just under the intake manifold.
If you look under the hood at any of these places and you find your starter soaked in oil, then you have another problem that is causing your starter issues. A small oil leak can become a huge problem if not properly addressed.
There are many things that can cause a starter problem from loose wiring to dirty or corroded connections, a damaged or worn-out starter system and bad relays. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, get your vehicle into Premier Chevrolet of Carlsbad.
