If your car, truck, or utility vehicle clicks when you turn the key in the ignition, this is a sign that the starter has died. The starter is a tiny motor that helps your engine get started. Without a functioning starter, you will be unable to start your automobile. Car Doctors Auto Repair can replace your import’s starter if it has gone bad. Let’s talk about the signs that the starter is going out and another significant problem that can cause premature starter death.
Signs the Starter Is Dead
As we mentioned above, clicking sounds are an indication of a problem with the starter. There’s a problem with this problem, however. You may not get the clicking warning before your starter dies completely. In some cases, the starter will go out without making any noises at all. This being said, if you hear clicking when you try to start your automobile, this is a sign the starter is dying. Other symptoms of a malfunctioning starter include
- Problems getting your engine to fire up and run
- An inability to start your engine
- A dead engine but working headlights, taillights, and interior lights
- A dead engine with smoke coming out from underneath the hood
If the latter occurs, this is a sign that you have tried to start your automobile too many times and overheated the starter motor. One definite way to pinpoint the problem to the starter is to check your vehicle’s lights even though the engine won’t start. If you have lights, the problem is not an electrical problem. In this case, you can safely assume your starter is dead.
Another Starter Problem
As we mentioned above, there is a problem that can kill the starter before its 100,000-mile to 150,000-mile lifespan, and this problem is a serious problem in your engine. Because of where the starter is located, under the left cylinder bank, it can easily be soaked by oil if your engine develops an oil leak.
The problem starts with a crack in your engine gasket. When the engine gasket loses its seal, it releases oil into the cylinders. Not only is this oil burned away during engine combustion but it can also drip onto the starter and soak it. When this happens, your starter will die prematurely.
The only auto shop you need for your import is Car Doctors Auto Repair in Athens, GA. Call us today to schedule an appointment if you suspect that your starter is going bad.
