On average, you can plan to get about 100,000 miles to 150,000 miles out of your car, truck, utility vehicle’s starter. This is the average lifespan of the part. C&C Automotive advises that you might get one or more signs that your starter is going bad before it actually dies. We are going to list these signs below.
Before We Get to the Signs…
Before we get to the signs of a bad starter, let’s talk about a unique situation that can prematurely kill your starter. This situation is motor oil. The starter is located on the left side of your engine underneath that side’s cylinder block. This puts it in a compromising position if you end up with a cracked engine gasket and a leaking cylinder block.
As the motor oil leaks out of the cylinder block, it saturates the starter and directly affects its ability to work. The starter is a tiny motor, so it doesn’t take much to saturate it with the motor oil. Unfortunately, the oil-soaked starter isn’t the only thing you need to worry about in this situation. You also need to worry about the cracked engine gasket and cylinder block.
Now, to the Signs of a Bad Starter
Hopefully, this will not happen to you. Hopefully, you will get at least 150,000 miles out of your automobile’s starter. This being said, the part will eventually go bad. Signs that it is going bad include
- Clicking sounds when you attempt to start your engine
- Difficulties getting the engine to fire up and run
- An inability to get the engine to fire up and run
- A dead engine but operating interior and exterior lights
- A burning smell accompanied by smoke coming out from underneath the hood
Oftentimes, the starter will make clicking noises before it dies completely. You cannot count on this, however. Starters have been known to die without making a single sound.
If you are having problems getting your engine started but you have functional lights, this is an indication that there isn’t an electrical problem. In other words, the battery and alternator are fine. Rather, your engine won’t start because the starter motor is inoperable.
Finally, if you keep trying to start your automobile, you may end up with a burning smell and smoke. This is a sign that you have overheated the starter motor.
C&C Automotive has auto service and repair shops in South Carolina and Georgia. Reach out to the shop that is closest to you for all of your automotive service and repair needs, including starter problems.
