Why does the starter break in a car?

Car starter: how to prevent damage

One of the most common causes of vehicle failure is starter failure. Determining its cause, as a rule, can be very difficult, but ensuring the starter has a long and uninterrupted service is within the power of every driver. First of all, it is necessary to regularly carry out technical inspection and repair of the car. Data about the service stations closest to you, as a rule, can be obtained through various advertising, for example, SMS (sms) newsletters .

Why does the starter break?

Most often, the starter breaks down in impatient drivers who are too persistent when starting the engine. If the car does not start, there may be many reasons for this, but the vast majority of drivers are simply confident that the starter is to blame and continue to try to start the car. Car repair specialists note that if the car cannot be started within four to five seconds, the cause of the breakdown does not lie in the starter. This could be, for example, a low battery charge, problems with the injection system, and much more.

It’s paradoxical, but if a person requires special services, for example, sending SMS from a computer , he will not try to do everything on his own, at the same time, car enthusiasts very often look like the patient who diagnoses himself and prescribes treatment for himself. It is clear that such an approach to the matter will bring harm, not benefit. That is why there is no need to torture the ignition switch if the car does not start - it is better to immediately contact a specialist so that he can identify the reason for this. Unnecessary efforts will not only fail to start the car, but will also damage the starter.

Another serious problem is insufficient battery charge. In the absence of sufficient battery power, the starter simply cannot start the car, as a result of which it begins to work unevenly and jerks appear. Naturally, such a life of a starter, by definition, cannot be long.

Autostart

Autostart, at first glance, is a completely harmless and useful function. In fact, it can cause considerable damage to the car's starter. Of course, heating the car, especially in the cold season, is simply necessary, but it is very difficult to guarantee effective warming up of the car using autostart, but autostart can have an impact (not the best) on the life and performance of the starter.

It should be borne in mind that autostart cannot always ensure that the car starts the first time, even despite the fact that the opposite information is displayed on the alarm key fob. If the alarm does not understand that the engine has not started, the autostart continues to drive the starter, but the engine will not start. In this case, you must contact a service center, otherwise the autostart will simply burn out the starter or, at a minimum, drain the battery.

Examples from life

There are many examples of starter failure due to improper operation of the car. Most often this is due to the fact that the engine starts, but the starter continues to turn it for a few seconds. Such failures, which occur regularly, lead to starter failure.

You cannot turn the ignition key even when the gear is engaged - the most striking example is the need to drive a few meters to the nearest gas station if the gas tank is suddenly empty. Such a trip on the starter could well be the last in his life.

Causes of starter failure and repair of faults

It is difficult to imagine a greater disappointment for the driver than when the starter does not respond when you turn the key. There can be quite a few reasons for this, both rather superficial ones, such as lack of contact, and a breakdown of the starter itself. For a person who has thoroughly studied the starting system of his car and has considerable experience, finding the cause of such a breakdown is not difficult. A beginner will have to suffer to identify and fix the problem.

You need to understand that in the process of starting the engine, 3 main elements are involved: the battery, which is the source of energy for the starter, the wires that connect the ignition elements, and the starter.

Let's look at the main reasons why a car won't start and how to solve common problems with the starter.

Checking the health of the battery

Most often, it is problems with the battery that lead to the fact that the car starts with problems or does not start at all. So the first thing you need to do is check it.

How to understand that the problem is in this unit? You need to be guided by the following:

If the starter does not turn, the retractor clicks, but nothing else happens, while the lights on the dashboard go out - this is a direct indication of problems with the battery;
Instead of one click, a whole series may occur, which is also accompanied by the fading of the lamps on the devices. The reason is the same - a weak charge or a malfunction in the battery;
If nothing happens at all when you turn the key, this may also be due to a lack of charge in the battery. To check if this is the case, you need to try turning on the headlights or some electrical appliance. If they also do not turn on, then it is obvious that the problem is with the battery.

A common cause of problems with the starter is the disconnection of any connections responsible for its operation. With heavy loads on the car and high mileage, such problems occur quite often.

Burnout of the power wire connecting the relay to the starter;
Weak or dirty contact in any part of the electrical circuit that includes the starter;
Problems with contacts in the ignition switch;
The brush assembly has problems;
The winding on the starter has burned out;
Problems with contacts in the solenoid relay.

Let's take a closer look at the most common breakdowns.

How to check the solenoid relay

If, when you try to start the car, the starter does not turn the retractor, clicks once, but does not start to rotate, you need to carefully check the retractor relay. It has only 3 contacts, 2 of which are large: the output directly to the starter and the input from the battery, and one small one is the control one.

Find out how to stop cracks in glass and avoid the formation of new ones here.

To check the operation of the relay, you need to connect the large terminals using a screwdriver or other metal object. If after this the starter starts to rotate, then the problem was in the solenoid relay. It is worth remembering that when doing such a check, you must avoid touching other metal parts under the hood.

So, if the starter began to rotate after such an operation, then the problem was that the contacts in the relay were burnt or covered with dirt. There are two solutions to this problem:

Cleaning contacts. You can simply clean the contacts on the relay terminals and the car will start normally for some time. But this option is not reliable and will not help for long;
Replace the solenoid relay completely. The right option that will fix the problem for a long time. The fact is that the contacts in the relay are covered with a special protective layer that prevents premature erosion and oxidation. If, as in the first option, you simply clean them, then this layer will also go away and the terminals will not last long.

Bendix gear wear

The Bendix starter design has a special gear that is in contact with the engine flywheel. When it is turned on and off, sharp contact occurs with the teeth of the flywheel. This leads to the fact that after a certain period of time the teeth gradually wear out, and may even simply break.

In this case, only replacing the failed gear can help.

Problems with brushes or starter windings

The service life of the brushes is quite short, and if the starter stops starting, and they haven’t been changed for a long time, it’s worth checking this too. Due to worn brushes, the winding simply does not receive the necessary voltage from the battery. This leads to the fact that the necessary magnetic field does not arise in it and rotation does not occur.

Wear of starter bushings

Without timely prevention and regular repairs, wear of the bushings in the starter design is also the reason for its failure to operate.

The shaft anchor, located in the starter, rotates in the bushings. They act as a protection against rapid wear and tear, because it constantly rotates and experiences friction. The bushings also play a protective role for the front and rear parts of the starter housing.

If the unit has not been subjected to any preventive maintenance for a long time, then gradual wear of the bushings can become the main reason for its failure.

To fix this problem, you need to remove the starter from the car, completely disassemble it and install new bushings. They need to be pressed well into the seat.

Insufficient starter fastening

An absolutely minor, but still common problem is that the starter is not tightened tightly enough. Because of this, its grip on the engine deteriorates and it refuses to work normally. The solution to the problem is very simple - you need to firmly tighten the nuts on which the starter is attached.

See what to do if the starter does not turn

So why does the starter turn poorly? Summarizing all of the above, it should be noted that in most cases, failure of the starter to work is explained quite simply and fixing the problem is not a big problem . You need to carefully go through all the points, starting from checking the serviceability of the battery and the wiring from the electrical power supply circuit of the starter, and ending with its removal from the car and a full check of the internal structure.

Problems such as burnt brushes and windings, licked Bendix gear teeth and broken bushings may not be the only problems in the unit. To find and correct the cause of the malfunction, you need to completely disassemble the device and carefully inspect all its component parts. Problems can be with the armature, the fork in the Bendix drive, short circuits in the windings - it’s simply impossible to list everything. A careful inspection will immediately show what the problem was.

It is worth remembering that regular technical inspections, preventative maintenance and minor repairs will help maintain the functionality of any vehicle component for as long as possible and premature repairs are simply not required.

Signs of a faulty starter and generator

Malfunctions of the starter and generator often cause a lot of trouble for motorists. After all, as often happens, during operation we do not pay much attention to the loads that the car has to withstand. However, this continues only until our car suddenly stops starting and requires repair.

Below we will talk about the most common causes of faulty starters and generators, as well as ways to eliminate them.

At the end of the article, watch detailed video instructions for finding the causes of a car starter malfunction.

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The understanding that any thing breaks if left without proper care comes too late, and the only way out of the situation is often an urgent repair of the starter or generator. To avoid breakdowns, you need to know and be able to recognize the first signs of impending malfunctions, and listen carefully to your car.

Signs of a generator malfunction

Generator faults are not always easy to identify. Some of them (the so-called “floating” faults) are determined only on a special stand.

But if you notice that the headlights have become dimmer while the engine is running, and that extraneous noise interferes with the normal sound of the running engine or that the battery is quickly discharged, then it’s time to contact the experts. Because it is better to prevent a malfunction by repairing the generator in a timely manner than to ruin your day one day with an unexpected breakdown.

Recently, it has become very convenient to contact specialized companies whose specialization is the repair, maintenance and sale of starters and generators. Modern equipment, combined with qualified personnel and a large selection of spare parts, will allow you to eliminate any malfunction in just a few hours. And diagnostics with disassembly and analysis of the degree of wear of parts will help to quickly determine the degree of performance and carry out restoration work.

However, you can try to diagnose and eliminate some of the causes of generator malfunctions yourself.

If the battery in the car is not charging, then first of all you need to check the tension of the alternator belt - the belt should be tensioned without sagging. This, of course, can be done by eye, but it is better to use a dynamometer: if you pull the longest branch of the alternator belt with a force of 10 kgf, then it should bend no more than 10-15 mm.

On most machines, the tension of the alternator belt can be adjusted by loosening the nut securing the alternator housing to the adjusting bar and using a pry bar to move it away from the engine. After setting the required belt tension, tighten the generator mounting nut back.

If the tension of the generator belt is normal, then most likely the voltage regulator relay . On older cars it is a plastic box screwed to the front fender mudguard, but in modern cars the regulator is built directly into the generator itself.

To replace the relay-regulator in the generator, you must first unscrew the two mounting screws, disconnect the contacts, and then remove the regulator along with the brush assembly from the generator housing.

Check the slip rings: burnt ones should be cleaned with fine-grained sandpaper and wiped with a cloth soaked in solvent.

For the first time after installing a new regulator, the voltage may be slightly different from the nominal one. When the new generator brushes get used, everything will return to normal.

Signs of a faulty starter

Both the generator and the starter experience large mechanical loads associated with the specifics of these devices, and the slightest violation of the operating mode immediately makes adjustments to the quality of work.

Prerequisites for diagnosing or repairing the starter may be as follows:

when turning the key in the ignition switch, the starter does not work;
after starting the engine, the starter does not turn off;
the starter turns, but the car does not start (the crankshaft does not turn when the armature is rotating);
strong grinding and noise during operation.

What to do if the starter does not work?

Below are general recommendations on what to do if the starter does not work. And at the end of the article, watch the video instructions.

If the starter does not work, first check the connection between the battery and starter wires.
After making sure the connection is good, turn on the horn and headlights. Dim headlights and a quiet signal indicate a low battery. In this case, you need to charge the battery or ask for a “light” from another car - the starter should work and start the car.

If the signal and headlights work normally, then try removing the wires from the ignition switch terminals responsible for starting the starter (on VAZs these are terminals “30” and “50”) and briefly connect them together. Triggering of the starter will indicate a malfunction of the ignition switch. Start the engine, replace the removed wires and continue on your way.
If the ignition switch is working and the starter still does not work, connect an additional wire to the terminal (plug) of the starter traction relay, and then touch the other end of this wire to the “plus” of the battery. If the starter operates, repair the fault in the circuit from the battery to the starter traction relay.

If all of the above does not help, then start the engine from a tow and go to an auto electrician to repair the starter.

Video instructions for finding the causes of a starter malfunction

Why does the starter keep breaking down?

Many car owners think that they are unlucky because they constantly encounter problems with the starter. In fact, everything is simple: you need to observe the frequency of maintenance and operate the vehicle correctly. Let's look at the most common mistakes made by car owners that cause the starting mechanism to break.

Exceeding the time and number of engine starts.

If after turning the ignition key the engine does not start after 4-7 seconds, do not diligently continue trying and turn the starter. With your efforts, you will not only not move, but will also break the starting device.

Low battery charge, lack of compression, malfunctions in the fuel supply system - these are the real reasons why the engine does not start.

Moreover, the battery may be either initially discharged or lose its charge after your repeated attempts to start the power unit. One way or another, the car will not go far, because you will have to wait until the battery is charged again or “light it” from other cars.

Conclusion: be patient and let the starter rest between attempts to start the power unit. If 3-4 starts are unsuccessful, feel free to go to a car service center to have your car diagnosed.

Using autorun.

During cold weather, especially in winter, comfort is important for many drivers, part of which is a preheated car engine. To do this, many car owners install an autostart system.

Unfortunately, such an “upgrade” does not work 100%, and the engine may not start on the first try, but the alarm key fob will show the successful start of the internal combustion engine. The fact is that the alarm system does not always understand that a misfire has occurred, and the autostart will repeatedly turn the starter, trying to start the power unit. If this problem is not solved in time, autostart can easily damage the starter and drain the battery.

For those who want to have a warm car interior and a warm engine without leaving home in winter, we recommend Webasto pre-start auxiliary heater .

By the way, there are often cases when the engine starts from autostart, but the starter does not turn off for several seconds. This situation can be caused by signaling latency, which is expressed in loss of control over starting the engine and timely shutdown of the starter. The regularity of such failures will eventually lead to starter failure.

Turning the ignition key while the gear is engaged.

With this option of starting the engine, the car will travel a few meters, and then you will say goodbye to the starter. Most often, drivers use this method when they stall in the middle of the road due to lack of fuel and want to get to the nearest gas station.

Now you know why the starter constantly breaks down, and you can prevent in advance critical situations associated with its rapid wear.

Starter malfunctions and their causes

To start the engine, the starter, which has a small mass and dimensions, has to rotate a massive flywheel and set in motion the entire crank-piston group of the engine to ensure a flash of the working mixture in one of the cylinders. Despite the fact that manufacturers claim a fairly long service life of the starter, sooner or later breakdowns occur. This is especially true for the North-West of Russia. Low temperatures, high humidity and heavy loads take their toll. Neglecting the rules of car operation also brings unpleasant results.

It must be remembered that the starter does not operate separately from other vehicle systems, but is located in a common starting and charging circuit. Along with natural mechanical wear, it is susceptible to the effect of so-called “avalanche breakdowns,” when even a small malfunction in the circuit leads to failure of the starter and vehicle components one by one. For example, if a defect appears in the power supply circuit, the starter does not have enough power to crank the engine. As a result, an electric arc occurs between the brushes and the commutator, which burns out the commutator. This is usually followed by persistent attempts to start the engine and, as a result, intense wear of the bushings, overheating and damaged insulation. The armature shaft rotates in these same bushings and when they fail, the armature shaft begins to beat, which leads to the destruction of the planetary mechanism. The armature may begin to hit the stator and then serious repairs or even purchasing a new starter will be necessary. The teeth of the flywheel ring may also be damaged.

Typical starter malfunctions and their possible causes.

"The starter does not turn the engine." When you turn the ignition key, the starter solenoid relay does not operate and the armature does not rotate.

Possible malfunctions simulating a breakdown of the starter, in which there is no need to remove and repair the unit:

the battery is faulty or completely discharged;

severe oxidation or poor contact at the positive terminal of the starter or battery;

malfunction of the ignition switch contact group;

Possible malfunctions that require removal and repair of the starter:

interturn short circuit in the winding of the starter traction relay, open or short to ground;

jamming of the retractor relay armature;

"The starter turns the engine slowly." When the starter is turned on, the crankshaft turns slowly.

Possible malfunctions simulating a breakdown of the starter, in which there is no need to remove and repair the unit:

battery discharge;

oxidation of the positive terminal of the battery or the tips of the starter connecting wires;

Possible malfunctions that require removal and repair of the starter:

burning of the commutator or short circuit between the commutator plates;

severe wear or sticking of brushes;

break in the stator or armature winding;

short circuit to ground or interturn short circuit in the armature or stator windings;

The starter works but the crankshaft does not rotate.

Possible malfunctions that require removal and repair of the starter:

slipping of the freewheel;

breakage of the clutch release lever or its axis jumping out;

breakage of the coupling drive ring or buffer spring;

jamming or tight movement of the drive on the screw thread of the starter armature shaft;

“The starter turns with a grinding noise.” When you turn on the starter, you can hear the gear grinding against the flywheel teeth.

Possible malfunctions simulating a breakdown of the starter, in which there is no need to remove and repair the unit:

nicks in the teeth of the flywheel crown;

Possible malfunctions that require removal and repair of the starter:

incorrect adjustment of the drive gear stroke and the closing moment of the switch contacts;

weakening of the starter drive buffer spring;

The starter does not turn off after starting the engine.

Possible malfunctions simulating a breakdown of the starter, in which there is no need to remove and repair the unit:

breakage of the ignition switch return spring;

Possible malfunctions that require removal and repair of the starter:

loose or broken freewheel return springs or starter traction relay;

stuck traction relay;

Repair and sale of starters, generators and their components for cars, trucks, buses, truck cranes, construction, logging and other special equipment in St. Petersburg.