Beginner's Guide: What Is a Starter Motor and What Does It ...

A starter motor is a vital piece of kit on your car. That's because you need the engine to be running to make pretty much everything else work the way it should.

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To turn over the engine you need an electric motor that can provide lots of torque for a brief time, over and over again. That is exactly what the starter motor is, plus a mechanism to allow it to engage and disengage mechanically in an instant.

Who invented the starter motor?

Charles Kettering invented the electric starter in for use on the Cadillacs, integrating an electric motor, generator, and spark ignition system, vastly modernizing cars of the time.

Vincent Bendix engineered a drive system that allowed the starter gears to engage or disengage quickly and effectively, which is an important part of the starting system. The generating and ignition functions would soon be divorced from the starter and get their own dedicated systems, but ironically, many modern mild hybrids use an integrated alternator/starter system once again. The pinion gear then turns the flywheel and the engine starts. As soon as the engine fires (and you let go of the ignition key) the solenoid allows the pinion gear to retract and disengage from the flywheel, preventing damage to the starter. 

How a starter motor works

It's relatively simple: as you turn the key or press the starter, power is sent to the ignition system to fire the spark plugs, and to a larger magnetic switch, which sends a rush of power direct from the battery to the starter.

That magnetic switch is called the solenoid, and is typically bolted to the starter itself, both switching high amperage power and causing the gears to mesh.

When the electromagnet is engaged, the solenoid plunger connects the thick battery cable to windings within the starter to actually turn the electric motor, plus it pushes a rod, engaging a fork which in turn pushes a pinion gear (connected to the motor) to automatically engage with the flywheel. 

Every Haynes Manual shows you where your starter motor is located and how to remove and replace it. Search for your vehicle here.

Need a new starter motor? Many of us now have a basic understanding of what a starter motor does in our cars &#; it&#;s all in the name. So, we know it has something to do with starting the car, but what does the starter motor actually do? How does it work, and why do we need it in our cars?

Knowing a little about how your car works is always helpful. This knowledge can make you aware of any issues that arise before they get worse. In this article, we&#;ll give you the basics of how the starter works so you can identify any issues with it if or when they arise.

What is a car starter motor?

The starter motor is key to getting your car started. It&#;s a small electric motor that attaches to the main engine. When you turn your key, the starter motor causes the flywheel to turn, which then leads to the engine starting. Once running, the starter turns off, allowing the combustion engine to run itself.

How a car starter motor works

Looking for more detail on how a car starter motor works? Here&#;s how. When you turn the ignition key, it sends a small current to the solenoid coil, which consists of the pulling and holding coils. This creates a magnetic field, pulling the piston back and connecting the contactor plate to the main terminals. The pulling coil turns off, while the holding coil keeps the piston in place. This motion engages the pinion gear with the flywheel, starting the engine.

Once the engine runs faster than the starter motor, the clutch unlocks, allowing the pinion gear to spin freely. Releasing the key cuts power to the solenoid, and a spring retracts the pinion gear. The engine continues running, and the alternator recharges the battery.

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Components of a starter motor

The starter motor is a pretty intricate piece of technology that is central to how many combustion engines start. Here are the key components of a starter :

Armature

Mounted on the bearings and drive shaft, the armature is an electromagnet that&#;s designed to offer support. It&#;s a soft laminated iron core that&#;s enclosed in several conductor loops.

Commutator

The commutator sits in the shaft near the rear and conducts electricity by the brushes running against it. It&#;s made with two plates that attach at the axle of the armature, providing connections for the coil.

Brushes

These run against the commuter. As they brush against the commutator, they generate electricity.

Solenoid

The solenoid has two coils of wire wrapped around a movable core. It acts as a switch, connecting the starterto the car&#;s battery.

Plunger

The plunger, powered by the battery and solenoid, moves forward to engage the pinion.

Lever Fork

The lever fork is attached to the plunger. When the plunger moves forward, it pushes the lever fork, which then activates the pinion.

Pinion

The pinion is a gear with springs. When the starter motor is activated, the pinion moves into the gearbox and engages with the flywheel, spinning the engine to start it.

Field Coils

The starter motor has field coils held in place by screws. There are usually two to four field coils connected in series. When powered by the battery, these coils become electromagnets that turn the armature, creating a magnetic field around it.

While this description of the components in a starter might seem long and complicated, remember that this all happens when you turn your key. This all happens over a few seconds.

How do you spot issues with your starter motor?

Now that you&#;re all caught up on how the starter motor works, let&#;s go through a few ways to identify when it&#;s not functioning as it should:

• The first and most noticeable indicator that something is wrong with your car will usually be the warning lights on your dash. Check if the warning light comes on there first
• Another common sign that your starter motor is dead is a consistent &#;clicking&#; sound that&#;s often followed by your car not starting. Even if you don&#;t hear the clicking sound, there&#;s a chance that the starter is still the issue
• You might also hear the starter cracking slowly. This means that the crack is struggling to turn, indicating an issue with the starter possibly
• Starter motors are primarily composed of electric components, making them prone to electrical issues. If you try to start your car and notice smoke, this could indicate an electrical problem in the starter. It is essential to address this promptly. A motor drive analyzer can be used to quickly and accurately diagnose and pinpoint the exact problem
• In rare cases, a leak in the oil system could cause oil to leak onto the starter motor. As a result, this could cause the starter to malfunction in a few different ways. To check for this, simply pop the hood of your car and look for the starter motor. If it&#;s clean, then you&#;re in the clear

Final Thoughts

We&#;re all capable of getting a little bit of grease under our nails from time to time. Being able to identify issues with your car could save you a lot of time and money on repairs. So keep learning, know your car inside and out. Who knows, by the end of it you may be the one replacing broken parts.

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