4 Signs of a Bad Starter Motor
There is a fairly clear difference between a bad starter motor and a faulty car starter system. A bad starter motor indicates that only the starter motor component is damaged, whereas if the starter system is damaged, it indicates that one or more parts in the starter system are damaged.
One example of a faulty starter system is a car battery that has come up short. Read: Car starter problems and issues. In comparison, one example of a bad starter motor is short of starter motor solenoid. So, at this point, I hope you can understand the difference between a damaged starter system and a bad starter motor component.
By understanding these conditions, we can limit the discussion regarding the characteristics of a bad starter motor. Not in the system but only in the starter motor. So what are the signs of a bad starter motor? Here's the explanation.
1. Grinding noise appears when starting up
The first thing that can be a characteristic of a bad starter motor is the appearance of a "grinding" noise from the starting motor when it is started. This grinding noise occurs due to the disconnection of the teeth' pinion gear with the flywheel ring gear's teeth.
The pinion gear on the starter motor and the engine's damaged ring gear will cause a grinding noise when the car is started. The grinding noise will get louder if the level of damage suffered by each gear is very severe.
2. Whirring noise appears when starting up
The next thing that characterizes a bad starter motor is the whirring noise when it is started. The whirring noise that appears when starting occurred when the one way bearing in the pinion gear is damaged.
As a result, the armature shaft, which should provide rotation for the pinion gear, only rotates on its axis and does not bring the pinion gear to turn (the term is often spelled as starter loss). That's when a whirring sound will hear from the starter motor, but there is no sign that the engine is spinning too.
3. Starting is easy when the engine is cold but hard when it is hot.
The next condition that characterizes a bad starter motor is starting can be easy when the engine is cold, but it becomes difficult when the engine is hot.
Yes, this condition can occur due to the increased resistance of the hold-in coil and pull-in coil. When the engine's hot temperature hits the solenoid body, the coil's resistance value will increase.
The effect is, the electric current will be blocked and cannot flow through the coil. When the electric current is stuck in the coil, the starter motor becomes difficult to start.
Also read:4. No reaction from starter motor when started
The next thing that characterizes a bad starter motor is if there is no starter motor reaction when it is started.
When there is no reaction from the starter motor, this can sign a bad starter motor. However, before you judge the starter motor is bad, make sure that the starter system's other components do not have a problem.
Another feature that can be a marker when the starter dynamo is damaged because there is no reaction in the starter dynamo when it is started is a break in the fuse for the starter dynamo.
A blown a fuse indicates an electrical line in the starter motor is short or burnt. The condition that often occurs is that the coil inside the field coil and armature is short or burned. Also, the carbon brush usually burns too. That is what will cause the fuse condition for the starter motor to blow and make the starting system on your car won't work.