4 Signs You Need a New Starter

Getting your car started is a somewhat complicated process that entails many parts working together to feed the engine the three substances it needs to run, electricity, gasoline and air. The starter motor is designed to kickstart the engine's spinning with the use of a an electrical motor. If the starter fails your car will be stuck in the driveway, or wherever you may be! If you're having trouble starting your car you may experience some of these symptoms, which may occur intermittently until the starter finally fails completely.

Single Loud Click

A single loud click is a good indication that there is electricity getting to the starter and causing it to actuate in an attempt to connect with the flywheel but there is not enough power to get it to spin the gear. You may also hear a series of clicks.

Swishing or Whirring Noise

The pinion gear is what connects with the flywheel in order to spin the engine. If these two parts do not connect but the pinion gear continues to spin it will produce a relatively loud "whirring" noise. This often means that the starter solenoid has gone bad.

Grinding Sound

If a grinding noise occurs as you try to start our vehicle it is a good indication that the starter mounting bolts have come loose. Another possibility for this noise is that there are teeth missing on the flywheel, meaning the pinion gear and flywheel cannot properly interlock to spin the engine.

Buzzing

A dull buzzing noise that occurs after turning the key to the start position often means that electricity is flowing to the starter, but not enough to get it to do anything. This may be caused by a loose battery connection or other corroded connections in the starting circuit.

If you've already experienced trouble starting your car or can't get it started be sure to head to the auto repair shop right away. At Hye Tech Automotive we offer professional starter repair in Covina for most makes and models. Our full service auto repair shop is staffed by expert technicians who can tackle any job! From routine auto maintenance to complex engine rebuilds, we really do it all. To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment for expert auto repair in Covina give our team a call at (626) 332-5452 and we will be happy to accomodate you!

Hye Tech Auto Blog

Written & Published By MORBiZ