If the automobile starts easily with the kick starter, most drivers and owners won’t give it a second thought until they try to start it again and the starting won’t work. When the starters in your automobile fail, you won’t be able to start the engine since they transform electrical energy into mechanical energy.
When time is of the essence, starters tend to fail, therefore being prepared to start a car with a broken starter is essential. This article will specifically address this matter. This is the simplest and most effective method for starting a car that has a defective alternator or a poor starter.
What are the best ways to start a car with a bad starter?
If you know what to do, even if you have a terrible start, you can still go to that important meeting you really want to go to. Understanding when you’re off to a poor start should be your top priority. When your vehicle won’t start and you think the starter might be at fault, keep an eye out for these symptoms:
- Vehicle not starting
- Dimming interior lights
- Clicking sounds
- Smoke or burning smell
- Freewheeling situation
- Slower starting speed.
Method 1: Keep an eye out for and remove any corrosion from the battery
Your car’s inability to start could be due to corrosion, which is causing it to send very little electrical current. Because of this, you need to check the battery terminals for acid deposits and corrosion.
Soaking the battery terminals in a solution of water and sodium bicarbonate will help remove acid deposits and corrosion. Cleaning battery connectors with this method is effective.
The starter’s positive solenoid connector is another place where rust and corrosion can bridge electrical conductivity, so be sure to inspect it for any signs of corrosion. Dielectric lubricant can help keep connectors from rusting, though.
Method 2: Push the power button
Although it may seem strange to some drivers, you may actually start your automobile by tapping the starter motor with a hammer or any other metal object. If your car’s starter isn’t very good, this is the way to get it started. Because of this, this is the first thing that the majority of drivers and mechanics will do.
Over time, the starter will wear down and develop dead spots between the field coil and the amateur as it works. To turn electrical energy into mechanical energy, you must turn the starter until it spins enough. Unfortunately, the starter is often concealed in newer vehicles, thus this approach might not be applicable to them.
Method 3: Jumpstart the car
If you have a fully charged battery that is already sending enough current to the starter, you can use this approach to jumpstart your dead battery and get your car started. Jumpstarting may seem like a strange alternative, but it actually works.
To get the car started, you may need to use a portable jump starter or a larger and more powerful 12-volt battery. Your automobile will be able to spin faster and start without any dead spots on the starter thanks to this. Nothing bad will happen if you give it a go, regardless of how strange it seems. It could save you from missing that critical meeting.
Method 4: Bypass the Relay
Most drivers are utilizing this option, which is popular with mechanics because it works. There are other starter problems that don’t require it, but if the problem is related to a defective starter relay, it will be the best solution.
The first step is to make an electric connection between the starter positive connector and the solenoid connector using an impact screwdriver or other metal object that is within your reach. To start the car, you need to supply 12 volts of current to the solenoid, and you may do this by avoiding the relay. The tiny motor located on the starter body is called a solenoid.
Method 5: Check your connections
When you attempt to start your vehicle but it refuses to do so, it’s important to inspect the connections. There may not be enough of a connection to start the automobile if the battery terminal is loose. If you notice any loose connections, use the appropriate equipment to tighten them and give the car another go.
Make sure that the connections between the starter motor and the positive terminal of the battery are securely fastened. whether you’re still not sure after checking and tightening the connections, you might attempt jumpingstarting the car to skip the battery-to-starter connection and see whether it starts.
Method 6: Push-start the car
Could you possibly use a faulty starter to push start an engine? Yes, without a doubt. To get a car started when the starter isn’t working or the battery is dead, push start is another popular and reliable option. Cars with manual transmissions are the only ones that can use this strategy.
To use this option, you’ll require the help of multiple individuals to push start the vehicle. Turn the key to the start position, move into second gear, and let off of the clutch when the pushing speed reaches ten miles per hour.
Keep trying to start the automobile by releasing your leg from the clutch; when it starts to rev, you’ll know it’s working. You can push start an automobile in this way.
Conclusion
When time is of the essence, nothing is worse than a bad opener that catches you off guard. On the other hand, you should get in touch with a skilled technician to take a look. If you don’t want to hire a mechanic, there are still plenty of do-it-yourself options to fix your vehicle.
For vehicles with a manual transmission, this means tapping the motor or going around the starter relay. You can always find a solution that suits your needs. As a result, the many ways to get a car started when the starter is malfunctioning have been thoroughly covered in this article. While these solutions will get your vehicle started, you should know that they are only a stopgap measure until you can get your faulty starter fixed.
