Tips

Three symptoms indicating a defective starter: Tips for troubleshooting starters and alternators

Since an internal combustion engine cannot start by itself, a functioning starter is essential for a roadworthy vehicle. Below, we’d also like to give you some helpful tips for troubleshooting starters and alternators.

Starter and alternator faults: rare, but not impossible

Starters are fundamentally maintenance-free and will do their job over the entire life of a vehicle. However, should they fail or malfunction, in many cases this is due to oxidised or faulty electrical connections, defective solenoid switches, damaged electric motors or worn single-pinion gears, or the driving pinion (wear or "clogging-up") or freewheel.

Three symptoms indicating a defective starter

If you notice these signs when there is a faulty start attempt, this indicates that the starter is defective: ➔ No response when actuating the ignition start switch. ➔ The starter "clacks", but does not engage. ➔ The starter audibly turns, but without driving the engine.

Approaches to searching for the cause of the failure

A starter malfunction can have different causes: Perhaps the electrical connections are faulty. A stiff or defective magnetic switch (engaging relay) could also be a possible cause. To be on the safe side, also check the electric motor for damage and take a close look at the single-pinion gears, starter pinion or freewheel. For the starter to function successfully, it must have a fault-free supply of power. Therefore, as part of the fault diagnosis, check the vehicle battery and the positive and ground supply of the starter.

Find our brochure with all information about our new parts programme for starters and alternators in OE quality for cars, vans and commercial vehicles as well as a list of individual starter faults and the appropriate solutions here: LINK

And incidentally: Nobody achieves really fantastic thingsentirely on their own–not even us! This requires great colleagues with a sense of teamwork, expertise, experience ... and of course you! We’ve listened to what you’ve got to say so we’re ditching our deposit system for starters and alternators! For you, this means: super easy handling, parts in top quality and a three-year guarantee!