You need air, fuel, a spark, and a starter to get your car, truck, or C/SUV’s engine running. Hightech Automotive advises that the factory starter will last approximately 100,000 miles. If you drive an older automobile and you cannot get the engine started, it’s possible that the starter motor has died. We are going to list five signs that you’ve got a bad starter underneath the hood.
1. Strange Noises Before Start-Up
You have probably heard that a dying starter will make clicking sounds. This is true, but not in all cases. A starter can go bad without making a peep. This being said, if you hear clicking, humming, or whirring sounds when you attempt to start your automobile, drive straight to our shop if you get it started. These noises are a warning that the starter is going bad and may not start your automobile the next time.
2. An Engine That Refuses to Start
If you ignore the strange noises that the starter motor makes before your vehicle ignites, you will end up with an engine that refuses to start eventually. As we said in the introduction to this blog post, the engine needs a working starter in order to start. That’s why the starter is called the starter. A malfunctioning starter or dead starter will make it impossible to get your engine to ignite.
3. Working Headlights, Taillights, and Interior Lights
If you are sitting there frustrated because your engine is dead, check your vehicle’s lights. Check the headlights, the taillights, and the interior lights to see if they are illuminated. If they are, you can bet safely that your engine won’t start because the starter is dead. If the problem were the battery or the alternator, your vehicle’s lights would not work because there would be zero electricity going to them.
4. Burning Smells and Smoke
Your starter motor may overheat if you keep trying to start the engine. When this happens, you will pick up on burning odors and might even see smoke wafting from underneath the hood. If you cannot get your vehicle started by the time the starter motor overheats, it’s a safe bet the engine won’t start at all.
5. An Oil Leak Over the Starter
Finally, if you inspect the starter and see that it is oily, you have an oil leak in the engine above the starter. Usually, this means that oil is leaking out of a cracked cylinder block. As you can imagine, a dead starter is the least of your problems if the cylinder block has cracked and is leaking oil.
Call Hightech Automotive in Forest City, NC, today to schedule an auto service appointment if you believe your car’s starter is going bad.