Electrical
Starter Motor
The starter cranks the engine with a high-torque electric motor and pinion gear.
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Starting & charging flow
Interactive — tap a partTap a part to see how it fits in the system.
What it does
- Engages a pinion with the flywheel teeth
- Spins the engine to starting speed
- Disengages once the engine runs
When it fails
- Clicking but no crank
- Slow cranking
- A whirring sound without the engine turning
- Smell of burnt wire
How to diagnose
- Check battery voltage and terminals first
- Test the start signal at the solenoid
- Measure voltage drop during cranking
- Check the flywheel teeth for damage
Maintenance
- Keep battery and ground connections clean
- Fix charging faults early to protect the starter
Use the diagnosis order. When a part fails, confirm each hypothesis with measurements before replacing anything — codes and symptoms overlap.