As you over tighten the starter solenoid's bolts, there is a high potential for damaging or bending these bolts inside the starter solenoid itself. As a result, the electrical current and thus, the efficiency of the starter solenoid drops significantly. Suppose you noticed any of the previously mentioned signs of a bad starter solenoid. In that case, you must take your vehicle to a professional mechanic, have it inspected, and take care of any repairs.
Some of these repairs might be as simple as replacing some of the wiring systems, while other repairs might require replacing the entire starter solenoid part. Before making any final repair decisions, you want to first confirm with the mechanic that the starter solenoid is the culprit because other components can affect the starter solenoid's functionality within the starting system. It is important to confirm that the starting problem is related to the starter solenoid before taking any action and replacing it.
Here is what you need to do to troubleshoot your starter solenoid:. If you confirmed that the starter solenoid is the culprit in your starter system, the solenoid must be replaced. Since the starter solenoid part is not very expensive, it might be worth learning how to replace the starter solenoid by yourself instead of spending money on labor costs. Sometimes your starting problem might be related to the starter itself and not only the starter solenoid.
Before replacing the starter, you need to set back and make sure it's worth the replacement. In other words, if your vehicle is very old and the repair costs approach the value of the vehicle, you might think of junking this vehicle.
Give us a call for more details. Often, this is done with the help of a multimeter to determine if the starter solenoid is working the right way. The possibility of the battery be the cause of the starter fault should also be ruled out. If in doubt, you can even replace the existing battery with a new one, especially if the current one has been there for too long.
Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It helps in starting the engine by performing two functions: 1. Acting as a switch to deliver a high current from the battery to the starter motor.
It has to function well for a car to start. But it sometimes becomes faulty, and any attempt to start the engine becomes unsuccessful. There are 4 most common starter solenoid problems. The sucking action of the starter solenoid failing from time to time. Bad Wiring Poor and hurried wiring lead to either inadequate current supply to the starter solenoid or a more dangerous problem of shorting.
Excessive Heating It happens when extremely high currents flow to or through the solenoid, and for too long. The soldering in the contacts melts, and they weld together. Excessive Moisture If moisture is left to get inside the starter solenoid, it leads to corrosion of the electrical contacts. The most obvious warning sign that a problem with the starter relay exists is when the vehicle won't start when you engage the ignition process.
As stated above, electronic keys do not have a manual ignition switch. However, when powered, it should send a signal to the starter relay once the key is turned or the starter button is pressed. If you press this button or if you turn the key on a manual ignition switch and the vehicle does not turn over, it may be caused by a problem with the starter relay.
This problem may be attributed to a circuit that has failed, so no matter how many times you turn the key, the vehicle will not start. If the circuit has not yet completely failed, you may hear a clicking noise as you try to turn the key. In either case, you should contact a professional mechanic to inspect the symptom and correctly diagnose the precise cause. When you start your engine and release the key or stop pressing the starter button on a modern vehicle, the circuit is supposed to close, which will discontinue power to the starter motor.
If the starter stays on after the engine has ignited, the main contacts in the starter relay have most likely welded together in the closed position. When this occurs, the starter relay will be stuck in the on position and damage will occur to the starter, circuit, relay, and the transmission flywheel if it is not addressed immediately.
If the starter relay is working properly, it will send power to the starter every time it is engaged. However, it is possible that the starter relay will become damaged due to excessive heat, dirt, and debris or other issues that might cause sporadic operation of the starter. If you try to start your car and the starter doesn't activate instantly, but you turn the key switch once again and it works, this is most likely due to a problem with the relay.
In this case, it's important that you contact a mechanic as soon as possible so they can determine what is causing the intermittent contact. In many cases an intermittent starting problem is linked to a bad wire connection that may become dirty due to exposure under the hood. This symptom is common when your battery is low on amps , but is also an indicator that your starter relay is not sending a full signal.
The relay is an all or nothing device, meaning that it either sends the full electrical current or sends nothing to the starter. Look for the light to come on. If the test light comes on, it means the solenoid is transferring power from the battery to the starter. If the starter fails to activate despite the light coming on, the starter itself may need to be replaced.
If the light does not come on, it means the solenoid is failing to transfer the power and will need to be replaced. Make sure to tell the clerk at your local auto parts store the correct year, make and model of your vehicle to purchase the right replacement parts.
Method 3. Connect the voltmeter to the positive terminal on the battery. A voltmeter will show you how much voltage is currently passing through the circuit the meter is a part of. Start by attaching the positive lead red from the voltmeter to the positive terminal on the battery. Some volt meters may clip into place, while others may require you to hold to lead onto the battery. Connect the negative lead to the ground terminal. This test is to determine how much voltage the starter solenoid is drawing from the battery when it is attempting to start.
Place the negative lead black from the voltmeter on the negative terminal on the battery to complete the circuit. Observe the reading on the voltmeter. Your car battery should produce approximately 12 volts when nothing is drawing off of it. Read the display on the volt meter to ensure your battery is producing an adequate level of power. The number may jump around as you move the leads a bit and the meter tries to read the voltage. Wait for it to settle to determine the baseline voltage.
While holding the leads on the positive and negative terminals on the battery, have a friend turn the key in the ignition to attempt to start the vehicle.
Be careful to stay clear of anything that may move if the engine actually starts. If the voltage does not drop, there is an issue with the connection from the battery to the starter.
Move the voltmeter to the leads on the starter solenoid. Place the positive lead from the voltmeter on lower terminal from the solenoid closer to the starter. Then place the negative lead on the upper most terminal coming from the battery. Have your friend turn the key again. Look for an appropriate voltage drop. The voltage drop you see on the solenoid should match the drop you saw on the battery. The drop in voltage should not exceed a half a volt.
If you do not read any voltage at all, the solenoid needs to be replaced. If the voltage drops too much, there may be a fault somewhere in the connection, such as a crimped line from the battery to the solenoid. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Related wikiHows How to. How to. More References 8. About This Article.
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