Have you ever wondered where is the starter located in your car? A starter relay sits between the battery and the starter motor, transmitting power. Without a properly working starter relay and motor, you won’t be able to start your vehicle and may need a tow.
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What Is The Starter In Your Car?
The starter is a small motor, powered by a battery. It gets the engine of your car running. The starter has a small starting gear that, when you turn the key or press the engine start button, engages the engine’s flywheel. Then it delivers power, getting the engine rotating. This allows it to suck air and fuel into the cylinders and begin the combustion process that allows it to run on its own.
Where Is The Starter Located In The Car?
Your starter can usually be found on the passenger’s side (if RWD) of the engine, just below the exhaust manifold. Or if it is FWD, check on the driver’s side above the transmission or under the exhaust manifold. They can also be located just under the intake manifold on some vehicles.
What Causes The Starter Problems In The Car?
A variety of problems can lead to a bad starter, including:
- Loose wiring to and from the starter
- Dirty or corroded connections at the starter
- Battery corrosion
- Damaged or worn-out parts in the starter system
- Oil leaks
- Bad relay or fuse
What Are The Common Bad Starter Symptoms?
We have discussed what is the starter, where is the starter located in the car and its causes, now let’s look at its bad starter symptoms:
1. Clicking Noise:-
One of the symptoms of a bad starter is a clicking noise when you turn the key or push the start button. However, a starter can die without making any sound at all, or it may announce its impending death with a whirring and grinding noise.
2. You’ve Got Lights But No Action:-
If you try to start the engine only to find that the dashboard lights up, but the engine doesn’t power up, you might have a problem with the starter.
3. Your Engine Won’t Crank:-
Is your engine not revving up, even after attempting a jumpstart? At this point, it’s time to call roadside assistance and get your car to the nearest auto care.
4. Smoke Is Coming From Your Car:-
The starter is part of your car’s electrical system and is subject to blown fuses and short circuits. When you’ve been desperately attempting to start your car, the starter can overheat making electrical issues and the accompanying smoke more likely. If you see or smell smoke, call for help rather than turning the key harder, again!
5. Oil Has Soaked The Starter:-
If you pop the hood only to find that your starter is drenched in engine oil, your bad starter might be a symptom of another problem an oil leak. Unfortunately, what starts out as a few drops of oil can slowly and sometimes unnoticeably turn into an expensive problem, so keep an eye out for oil leaks to avoid starter issues of this nature.
Therefore, if you’re wondering where is the starter located, what are its causes, and what are its bad starter symptoms just refer to the above-mentioned information.
How Do You Troubleshoot Starter Problems?
Assuming you’ve already tried to start and jumpstart your car, try one of the following troubleshooting tips.
Step 1:- Check The Hood
Check the battery and battery cables to see whether everything’s in working order. A weak or dead battery, or even faulty battery cables, could be causing the problems with your car, not the starter.
Step 2:- Tap The Starter
Try lightly tapping the starter a few times with a hard object, making sure not to pound it. In some cases, this gentle tapping can help power it back up, since you’ll be tapping the electrical components back in contact with each other.
Step 3:- Adjust The Transmission
Let’s say your car’s automatic transmission is in the “park” setting but the car won’t start. If that’s the case, try starting the car in “neutral.” If it starts in “neutral,” there may be a technical glitch that’s preventing the car from starting in “park,” like a faulty neutral safety switch.
Step 4:- Check The Fuel Gauge
The empty gas tank can surely be the reason why your car isn’t starting!
Many times, the quick fix for a bad starter is tapping it. Jumpstarting your car can get it on the road, at least temporarily, but then you’ll want to get the problem checked out by a qualified technician. If a jumpstart or tap doesn’t do the trick, you’ll most likely need to get the car towed and have the starter repaired or replaced.
Conclusion:-
We hope the above-mentioned information for your question about where is the starter located in the car will be helpful to all the readers. If anybody’s doubts persist feel free to comment in the comment section below. We’ll try to solve your doubts as soon as possible.