Ultimate Auto Repair hopes you are never faced with motor oil leaking all over the starter. This is a sign of serious engine damage. It’s an indication that you have a cracked engine gasket and/or cylinder block. Consequently, the motor oil drips onto the starter and saturates it. This can cause the starter to die before its anticipated lifespan, which is 100,000 miles. If you are having any of the following problems, your starter could be dying because it is saturated in motor oil or because it has reached the end of its life.
Noises Before Igniting
Sometimes, not every time, a starter will give you a warning that it needs to be replaced. If you hear strange noises before your engine fires up, the starter is most likely making the noise. The two most common sounds that a starter will make are clicking and whirring. This is a sign that the starter is going bad, as is the noise continuing after your engine has started.
The Engine Won’t Start
As we mentioned above, the starter may not give you any warning that it needs to be replaced. Consequently, you may end up stranded with an engine that will not start. The reason why the engine will start is that the starter turns it over so it can bring in the air and fuel that it needs for combustion. A dead starter means an engine that will not turn over.
The Lights Are Working
While you are sitting there waiting for roadside assistance, you may be wondering if the problem is the battery. It’s only natural to suspect the battery if you can’t get the engine started. One way you can check to see if the battery and alternator are still working is to turn on your vehicle’s lights. Check them carefully to make sure they are illuminated at full brightness. If they are, your starter is the reason why your engine will start. The battery is powering the lights.
Burning Smells and Smoke
One final sign that your starter has died is the smell of heat and smoke coming from the engine. If you have just spent the last few minutes trying to get your engine to fire up, you have overheated the starter motor. Consequently, it will release smoke and hot odors.
Ultimate Auto Repair in Jackson, MI, is here to help, so call us today to set up a service appointment so we can test your starter and replace it if it has gone bad.
