As its name suggests, the starter in your vehicle’s engine is the part that starts the vehicle. It’s essentially a small electric motor that uses power from the battery to start the larger engine into motion. Our team at Longview Alternator & Start Co. specializes in starter replacement, and we can help you figure out when something is wrong with your starter and provide the effective replacement services you need. In this article, we’ll go over a few examples of common starter problems and what to do about them.
- Starter Not Engaging Properly – One common problem with starters is the starter failing to engage with or disengage from the rest of the engine properly. In most cases, this occurs because the starter is not properly aligned. To fix it, our team will use shims to adjust the position of the starter until it is lined up correctly with the surrounding components.
- Starter Not Turning Over – As we mentioned above, the starter is what makes the engine turn over to start the vehicle. If your engine is not starting as it should, you should get the starter checked out, as well as the electrical system and battery. Often, what looks like a starter problem is actually a problem with the battery or other electrical components, but fortunately, our team has the right knowledge and experience to provide a correct diagnosis.
- Starter Failed After Installation – A third common problem we see with starters is new starters failing shortly after installation. There are a few reasons why this might occur. You or your mechanic might have installed the wrong starter, one that is not designed to work with your engine’s compression ratio. Alternatively, your starter may be positioned wrong, causing it to overheat. A third possibility is the starter having a faulty ground connection.
If you’re experiencing vehicle problems that you suspect are related to the starter, our team is here to help. Stop by our shop or give us a call to learn more about how we can assist you.