What are the Symptoms of a Bad Starter?
You head out the door in a rush and your car won’t start. You don’t know if it is a dead battery, a failing alternator, or a starter that has gone bad. Your starting problem may not be the starter. It could be that the battery is not packing enough juice to start your vehicle, or maybe you left your headlights on all night. Or maybe the battery is just old and needs to be replaced.
Or, the alternator may not be doing its job of keeping the battery charged. If the warning light on your instrument panel is on--the one that typically looks like a car battery--your alternator is not working and your vehicle is probably running strictly off the battery.
Okay, you have ruled out the battery and the alternator. Now you need to know, what are the symptoms of a bad starter?
- Your vehicle turns over slowly or labors to crank when starting.
- Your vehicle won’t start at all.
- Starting problems are off and on at random.
- The lights dim when you try to start the car.
- You hear a grinding noise when the car is starting or running.
- A burning smell or smoke is coming from underneath the hood.
- The starter is soaked with oil.
The starter system is made to be durable--designed for repeated use under a variety of weather and road conditions. However, as with all other vehicle components, the wear and tear of daily use, extreme conditions, and poor maintenance can create problems.
Don’t wait to get stranded with a car that won’t start. Has your car checked out as soon as possible before the problem gets worse?
Want to know more about what are the symptoms of a bad starter? Contact our ASE-certified technicians today at Express Auto Service & Repair for more information about starters and alternators and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Mankato, MN, and the neighboring communities of North Mankato, MN, New Ulm, MN, and St. Peter, MN.
You head out the door in a rush and your car won’t start. You don’t know if it is a dead battery, a failing alternator, or a starter that has gone bad. Your starting problem may not be the starter. It could be that the battery is not packing enough juice to start your vehicle, or maybe you left your headlights on all night. Or maybe the battery is just old and needs to be replaced.
Or, the alternator may not be doing its job of keeping the battery charged. If the warning light on your instrument panel is on--the one that typically looks like a car battery--your alternator is not working and your vehicle is probably running strictly off the battery.
Okay, you have ruled out the battery and the alternator. Now you need to know, what are the symptoms of a bad starter?
- Your vehicle turns over slowly or labors to crank when starting.
- Your vehicle won’t start at all.
- Starting problems are off and on at random.
- The lights dim when you try to start the car.
- You hear a grinding noise when the car is starting or running.
- A burning smell or smoke is coming from underneath the hood.
- The starter is soaked with oil.
The starter system is made to be durable--designed for repeated use under a variety of weather and road conditions. However, as with all other vehicle components, the wear and tear of daily use, extreme conditions, and poor maintenance can create problems.
Don’t wait to get stranded with a car that won’t start. Has your car checked out as soon as possible before the problem gets worse?
Want to know more about what are the symptoms of a bad starter? Contact our ASE-certified technicians today at Express Auto Service & Repair for more information about starters and alternators and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Mankato, MN, and the neighboring communities of North Mankato, MN, New Ulm, MN, and St. Peter, MN.
