Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange
Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [starter]

Typically an electric motor used to turn an internal combustion engine to begin the combustion process.

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Why do car starter motors draw so much current?

I understand that most car starter motors' power is rated between 0.5kw to 1.5kw. Doesn't that mean that they are supposed to draw 40-120 amps? (500 w / 12 volts etc.. )? Yet when they start, they draw hundreads of amps for the split second they…
Andrei Grigore
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Is it ever neccesary to burn a starter out?

Honda civic vti 1999. While we were trying to diagnose a no start/cut out condition (Help with odd start/no start car) the mechanic kept holding the ignition on crank for prolonged times and you could smell a burning smell develop. I asked him what…
James Wilson
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Why no alternate (hand-cranked, spring-loaded) starter for a car?

A dead battery is a common and serious problem. At a minimum it takes time to jump-start the car. But oftentimes a second car is unavailable, or there's no jumper cables, or a serial killer is chasing you and pounding on your window. So why don't…
Philip
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Car won't start after sitting for 2 years even with a jump. Is it a starter or alternator issue?

My parents have a 2001 Pontiac Aztek that's been sitting for two years. Apparently, before they stopped using it, there was an oil leak that caused starter problems (they couldn't find the leak), and they replaced it multiple times. And, the battery…
Christian
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My 1999 Chevy suburban has a battery issue. One of the batteries is boiling hot and smells like it's burning up

My battery is boiling hot on one of my batteries in my 1999 Chevy suburban. I thought I had it traced down to two wires rubbing together on my starter and sparking and fixed that and it stopped. Now it's doing it again. I've already lost one battery…
Steven Hamilton
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What could cause my Honda Civic to not start? And how can I address the issue?

I need help trouble shooting my honda civic. It will not start. I was driving it earlier today and I went to drive it again when it would not start. I'm glad I was at home when it decided to quit. Turning the key goes normally until I try to get it…
Biff MaGriff
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2003 Suzuki Katana GSX600F - No Start Issue

So I recently purchased this motorcycle from a third party. 2 days ago it would start up fine and you could ride it. The guy I brought it from said the battery was acting cranky so you should change it. That same day I had the bike on the…
Torey
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Engine starter just won't stop starting

I have a 98 Toyota privia and upon starting it the starter just keeps going. This only occurs in drive and neutral. The vehicle also starts in any gear. When I start in park the starter keeps spinning until I shift then it stops: same as neutral.…
Dee
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Failing starter motor - why does whacking it help?

Starter motors can be notorious for intermittent cranking issues towards the end of their useful life. Why is it that some starter motors can be persuaded to crank the engine by hitting or tapping them? Does the hitting have an effect on the brushes…
Zaid
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Will any starter relay / solenoid do? For my motorcycle

I'm looking for a starter relay / solenoid for my 2004 Yamaha TT600RE. That part seems to be scarce for this bike. How interchangeable are solenoids for motorcycles? Will any Yamaha 600cc solenoid fit this bike? If I find just any ol' solenoid with…
bevanb
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What are the audible symptoms of a failing starter motor?

My 2004 Subaru WRX has 110000 miles on the odometer and I'm worried about the original equipment starter motor. Here are the audible symptoms that have me concerned: During the winter, I noticed that sometimes on a (very) cold start, turning the…
Bob Cross
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How can I disable my 2002 Ford Explorer so someone with a key can't start it?

A person at my house continually moves my 2002 Ford Explorer from the driveway to the street without permission. The key is shared and must remain easily accessible. Personal issues aside, is there a way we can disable my truck so he can't move it,…
dave
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How long time do I need to run the engine to charge the same amount of power that the starter took

I have a Range Rover 4.6l V8, and I'm wondering if anyone have some sort of estimate of how long time I need to keep my engine running, to charge the same amount of power that the starter took to start the engine. I'm not really looking for exact…
Markus
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Starter solenoid clicking continuously

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. My car would not start yesterday. When the ignition was turned, all that could be heard was a continuous clicking which then slowed after a while, when I left the key in for some time. Since then I…
William
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Can a starter fail and then work intermittently?

A few days ago my 2003 Honda Accord would not start. Turning the key turned on all electronics and I could hear what I believe to be something in the fuel system spinning as I attempted to start the car. I replaced the battery, so that is not the…
benr
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