A starter is a device that uses electricity and mechanics to start an internal combustion engine. It is located near the toothed ring gear of the flywheel and, when triggered, engages with it, spinning it with an electric motor. After starting, when the ignition key is released, the starter relay (solenoid relay) opens the electrical contact, and the starter gear disengages from the flywheel.
The modern starter is compact, but its design is not as simple as it seems at first glance. Because of this, the list of signs of failure can be quite extensive, although similar for most cars.
The starter does not start when the key is turned
If we do not consider obvious reasons, such as a discharged battery, the problem may be caused by the following factors:
Oxidation or complete destruction of one of the contacts in the starter circuit.
Breakage of internal relay windings.
Malfunction of the starter motor, which drives the flywheel.
Contamination of the internal parts of the starter due to natural wear of parts. As a result, poor contact may occur between the motor brushes and the collector.
Noise or crackling during starter operation
Another common "symptom" of a malfunction is a characteristic crackling sound from the unit. Usually, its cause is wear or breakage of the Bendix gear (overrunning clutch).
Often this malfunction manifests itself gradually with each new engine start. As a result, after a few days or weeks after the appearance of the first signs, the engine may completely stop starting.
The starter turns poorly, heats up, contacts burn out
In addition to the listed problems with external contacts, windings, or internal contamination, such signs may indicate wear of the bushings or bearings of the starter armature. In this case, the starter shaft loses its centering and becomes skewed, which leads to poor contact with the brushes. As a result, increased current consumption occurs, the contacts and wiring become very hot, and the traction characteristics of the starter deteriorate, and its operation becomes less efficient. This can manifest as a feeling that the starter is "barely turning".
How to check the starter for operability with your own hands
First of all, it is worth noting that for a full check of the starter, it must be removed.
Dismantling the starter is not particularly difficult and does not require a special tool. The main thing is not to forget to disconnect the battery before starting the procedure, otherwise it can lead to serious consequences.
To test the starter, it is necessary to remove it and use a 12-volt power source with "crocodile" wires.
How to check the starter motor
To check the electric motor, connect the "minus" of the battery to the starter housing, and then apply "plus" to the contact wire that connects the relay and the motor. If the engine starts to rotate quickly and without extraneous noise, then it is working properly.
How to check the solenoid winding of the starter relay
On the starter, you will find two free contacts (the third connects the relay and the electric motor with a wire). One of these contacts on the car is connected to a red wire - this is "plus". The second, control, goes to the ignition switch contact.
To check the solenoid relay, it is necessary to connect the "plus" of the power source to the control contact, and connect the "minus" to the electric motor housing. If the starter drive gear extends forward, the solenoid relay is working properly.
How to check the holding winding of the starter relay
Disconnect the wire going from the relay-motor, on the relay side. Connect the starter housing to the negative terminal of the battery, and connect the positive terminal to the control contact of the relay. Then briefly touch (do not hold!) the wire coming from the relay-motor to its standard contact, from which it was disconnected. In this case, the gear should extend forward and remain in place. In this case, it can be concluded that the holding winding is working properly.
Check the starter Bendix
To check the condition of the Bendix (overrunning clutch) of the starter, you must first disconnect the power source. Then, rotating the starter gear with your fingers, make sure that it rotates only in one direction. If rotation is possible in both directions, then the Bendix is faulty.
Imitation of engine starting with a starter
To simulate engine starting, it is necessary to connect the "minus" of the power source to the housing, and apply "plus" to the constant positive contact of the starter (to which it is connected on the car). Then you need to close the positive and control contacts.
After that, the gear should extend forward, and the engine should start working.
Earlier research conducted by NAPI showed that over the past year, prices for spare parts for Russian cars have fallen by an average of 29%. At the same time, the cost of parts for foreign cars has increased.
Among the spare parts for domestic cars, it is worth noting a noticeable decrease in prices for radiator grilles, wheel disks and rear-view mirrors. Hoods and airbags have risen in price only slightly. In the segment of Chinese cars, there is a price increase of 12%. Rear fenders have become more expensive by 75.5%, and doors - by 14-19%. At the same time, front fenders have become cheaper by almost 45%.
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