Is there some kind of test a auto shop can run on a starter to see if it’s bad or going bad? I know you can test to see if an altanator is working right and if a battery is holding a charge, just wondered how you can figure out if a starter is bad?

Do you have a car that is not starting? Normally you would have some more information. Does it ever start. Is there any noise when you turn the key? What does it sound like? How long have you had the problem, what make model year and mileage? Does it make any noise when you try to start it? …

Car started acting funny a week ago. Have had car for over 2 months with no issues, then last Sat when I went to start it, it sounded like it was hard to start, like battery low. Had batter tested, was told it was low on water, so filled. Drove van all week and no issues till friday when it again…

Thirty years ago we had equipment in the shop to test starters. Now, since the labor costs more than the new/rebuilt starter, if you take it out, there is no point in testing it because you would be silly to go to the trouble to put an old starter back in. The on-car test for the most common failu…

You can have a starter current draw test performed. This can be done with the starter motor in place. Find a shop that has an ammeter at a minimum (or an appropriate test meter) or a starter/alternator repair shop. The current draw will vary based on a number of factors; engine temp, engine wear, t…

The starter is a strong electric motor with a spring loaded gear at the end of the shaft that comes out of the motor. A starter that cranks a long time, as in a motor that won’t start, can get very hot. The heat melts some of the materials that make up the armature of the motor, or the wire windin…

What kind of life do starters have? Is it out of place for a starter that is over 8 years old and over 136,000 miles on the car to go bad?

I think you already know the answer to that question, starters fail with alot less miles/time on them. Just to make sure you are not missing something (this burned electrical smell is nothing to dismiss, it must be identified) check TSB’s.

That owuld not be an abnormal failure at that life. The best way to test the starter is simply to check for applied voltage to the starter assembly when the failure is occurring. If you have 12 VDC and the starter isn’t turning the engine over, then its the starter assembly. I’d agree with UncleT t…

No TSB for starters. I read that when a starter does go bad you might get a whiff of what smells like burnt wires or plastic. Accorind to my mechanic who as never steered me wrong and after a full day of checking it is the starter and I am looking at $235 for new starter and labor. Starter is $15…

How do you know if your starter is bad?

Maintenance/Repairs

whoit32 October 10, 2010, 4:08pm 2

Most auto parts stores can check the starter to see if its working. If the starter is bad you’ll usually get a clicking sound or just a single click. A lot of times that click can be because the battery is drained as well

Topic		Replies	Views
Starter tested ok, could it still be bad? Maintenance/Repairs eclipse , mitsubishi	19	65269	October 2, 2021
Starter bad? Maintenance/Repairs chevrolet , batteries , blazer , starters	1	416	June 22, 2010
How do I know if I need a starter or not Maintenance/Repairs	6	732	April 24, 2009
Nissan Almera 2000 starting problem Maintenance/Repairs nissan , jump-starting	22	3899	December 20, 2022
How long will the starter last after the first dreaded clicking and no crank up? Maintenance/Repairs	22	70691	October 22, 2012

How do you know if your starter is bad?

Related topics