How Starters Work

One of the most important parts of any engine is the starter. As the name suggests, this component is responsible for starting the motor into motion—without a working starter, your vehicle won’t go. Our team at Longview Alternator & Starter Co. has been providing starters for trucks, tractors, and other equipment since 1985, and you can turn to us whenever you need to replace this essential component. In this article, we will provide an overview of how starters work.

• Electric Motor – The first thing you need to know about starters is that they are small electric motors inside the larger internal combustion engine of your vehicle. When you start your vehicle, the starter uses electric power from the battery to kick the larger engine mechanisms into motion so the internal combustion reaction can begin.

• Air Flow – The second thing you need to understand about starters is that their main job is to make the engine turn over to suck air into the combustion mechanism. This air provides the oxygen necessary to allow the combustion reaction to start—without that rush of air, the fuel couldn’t burn, and the vehicle wouldn’t go anywhere.

• Spark Plug – Lastly, the starter in an engine also provides electric energy to the spark plug, which is what sets the fuel burning. The fuel tank provides the fuel for combustion, the flywheel (powered by the starter) provides the oxygen, and the spark plug provides the heat.