Starter Doesn’t Engage!

Once again, I’m posting this mostly for the benefit of my local customers, but everyone should read this, as it may help you describe your problem to your rebuilder!

If this sounds like I’m angry, I’m not! Just please, please, please, don’t come into my shop and tell me that your starter doesn’t engage!!! The first thing that does, is piss me off, because now I have to stand there for a half an hour, quizzing the person on what exactly his starter is doing and explain to him how his starter works to narrow down the problem. The second thing that will happen is I’m gonna get in your face and ask, What part of it doesn’t engage? starting the conservation, which most people look at me with a dumbfounded look on their face, like I should know what their talking about!

The problem with saying ‘My starter doesn’t engage’ is that in most starters, there are numerous parts that engage other parts, and the definition of engage, means different things to different people. One person will have a starter that spins but doesn’t turn the engine over. Another person will have one that just clicks when you turn the key. Another person’s starter will be completely dead. They will all come into my shop and say their starter doesn’t engage, but all have different problems.

Let me explain just what occurs when a starter is activated. When the vehicle operator turns the key to the start position, an electrical current flows into the solenoid’s coil and ‘engages’ the solenoid, pulling in the plunger. The plunger usually does two jobs; It pushes or pulls the drive gear into the flywheel ‘engaging’ or meshing with it, also making contact between the battery cable and motor terminal ‘engaging’ the starter motor and starts it spinning. As with most modern starters, the motor ‘engages’ a gear reduction, which ‘engages’ the output shaft, which ‘engages’ the drive body, which ‘engages’ the drive gear through a one-way slip clutch, which finally ‘engages’ the flywheel, rolling the engine over and all this happens within a second or so.

As you can see, there are a lot of parts engaging with others, so saying that the starter doesn’t engage, doesn’t tell me anything!!!

Here is a list of the best responses for the question of ‘what exactly is the starter doing or not doing?’ or (what’s wrong with your starter?)

1. Starter spins, but doesn’t crank the engine. (This is usually a bad drive or stripped gears in the gear reduction.)
2. Starter clicks only once each time you turn the key. (Usually a bad solenoid, but could also be a bad battery cable.)
3. Starter rapidly clicks or chatters when you turn the key. (This is almost always low voltage to the starter, usually a weak battery or corroded cables or connections.)
4. Starter is completely dead, no noise, nothing. (This is anything form worn out brushes to completely burned up and beyond repair. It also could be a dead battery or a bad battery cable. Don’t let any of this prevent you from getting it checked out before spending a bunch of money on a new starter.)

There you have it! Using these terms to describe your problem will expedite your repair and save you time and money, and me a lot of headaches!