If you’ve got 100,000 miles on the odometer, your car’s starter has reached the end of its anticipated life. It may last quite a bit longer, but John’s Auto Care advises that the average lifespan of this ignition system part is about 100,000 miles. In terms of years, the starter should last about 10 years. If you are having any of the problems listed below, it’s likely time to replace the starter.
1. Clicking or Whirring Noises
Listen carefully from the time that you turn the ignition key/press the start button to the time that your engine starts. You should not hear anything other than the engine turning over. If you hear a clicking or whirring sound, the starter is malfunctioning and having difficulties turning over the engine. If the engine starts and stops making these noises, drive to our shop for a new starter.
2. An Inability to Start the Car
It’s important to take action right away because your car may not start the next time you attempt to start it. The starter may only give one audible warning before it dies, or it may not give a warning at all. You may slide into the driver’s seat only to find that the engine won’t start no matter how many attempts you make. Without a functioning starter, the vehicle will not start.
3. Working Vehicle Lights
But what exactly is causing the starting difficulties? Is it the starter or battery? There is a way you can determine whether the battery is producing power or completely discharged. Check the dashboard while you attempt to start the automobile. Do the warning lights turn on? Are the interior and exterior lights working? If so, your car isn’t starting because the starter is dead.
4. Visible Smoke and Burning Odors
We mentioned above that your vehicle won’t start after several attempts. Visible smoke and burning odors coming from the engine also point to the starter as the problem. This smoke and the hot smells are an indication that the starter motor has overheated during your attempts to fire up the vehicle.
5. An Oil-Saturated Starter
Finally, you may end up with a dead starter if you have cracked the head gasket and cylinder block. Cracking the head gasket can cause the motor oil to leak into the cylinder block. If the block is cracked, the oil will saturate the starter motor and cause it to malfunction and die.
Call John’s Auto Care in Roseville, CA, today if you are having problems with your vehicle’s starter.
