Most car owners and drivers fail to pay attention to the kick starter provided the car starts very fine until they try to start the car and get no response from the starter.
Starters are what power the car to start by converting electrical energy to mechanical energy, and when they fail, you cannot start the car as they are what power the engine.
One thing about starters is that they are likely to fail when you have urgency, so it is imperative to know how to start a car with a bad starter.
And this is exactly what we are going to explain in this article. It is not only how to start a car with a lousy starter, but the easiest ways to do so and how to start a car with a bad alternator.
What is a starter?
The starter pulls charge from the battery and sends it to the engine. You’ve got a battery full of electrical energy, and then you’ve got an engine that needs that energy to start.
How does the energy get from point A to point B? The starter! Symptoms your starter is bad include:
- No noise coming from your engine when you turn the key.
- Intermittent problems starting the engine.
- Clinking, grinding, or whirring noises coming from the engine bay.
- Smoke appears when you crank the engine repeatedly.
Different methods to start a car with a bad starter
There are several techniques for starting a car with a broken starter, including using a screwdriver to push the car or using a jump-start battery. Another alternative is to tap the starting motor roughly with a hammer to remove it and start the vehicle.
- Jump Start the Car – This solution is not valuable. After all, a rechargeable battery must give enough energy to the starter to start it up. The high voltage supply could be sufficient to overcome the dead spot in the starter. But don’t get too excited since it only functions as well as it does.
- Push-Start the Car – There are certain limits to this method because it only operates with manual transmission autos. If you own a manual transmission vehicle, you may start the engine by moving the car down the road. This option is helpful if the starter has failed or the battery is dead.
- Tapping Starter Motor – This method is the most common way car owners do when their starter motor won’t work. By lightly tapping the starter motor with a hammer to dislodge it.
How to start a car with a bad starter?
#1. Inspect the Connections.
Before you do anything else, you need to check the connection between the starter and the battery. If the connections are loose, the starter might not receive the proper power to operate.
You should be able to easily tighten the connection on the battery terminals. While you are there, look for corrosion. If there is any, it could be interrupting the power flow. Thankfully, you can clean battery corrosion quickly with a mixture of baking soda and water.
If the battery connection looks good and doesn’t have any corrosion, you want to follow the positive wire. It will split in two, with one wire going to the alternator and the other to the starter.
You can shake the wire going to the starter to see if it feels loose. If there’s too much wiggle room, you want to tighten the connection.
#2. Look at Engine & Body Grounds.
The ground connection to the starter is supplied through the contact made with the transmission.
There will be at least one ground wire connected to the car body for the transmission. If this connection were to become damaged, loose or rusty, there would be an open circuit within the starter, keeping you from getting the engine running.
However, there’s always the possibility that a bad engine ground could be contributing to the problem too. It’s wise to inspect both just to be sure.
You should also check the ground between the battery and your car’s body. You can use an external jumper cable between the negative battery terminal and a good grounding point on the engine to ensure the ground is good.
#3. Tap the Starter.
You’ve probably seen lots of people illustrate how to tap a starter to get it moving, but there are also many others that bang on the starter. That is not the way to handle this step.
If the starter has a dead spot between the armature and field coils, a slight bang might move it beyond that spot so it can work again. If you’ve been noticing intermittent problems, this will probably get the engine started again.
You can use a hammer, ratchet extension or pry bar to get the job done. Find the starter on the side of the motor and give it a good tap.
Sadly, this isn’t going to work with all cars. If you have a vehicle with a transverse engine, the starter is going to be in a difficult location.
You would often have to get between the firewall and the engine to tap it, as it might be under the intake or over the exhaust manifold. In this case, you might need to move on to another solution.
Be very careful when doing this and ensure the car is in neutral and you are not near any moving parts.
#4. Inspect the Solenoid Wire.
You have already looked at both the ground and positive wire on the starter, which are the connections required to turn the motor.
However, the solenoid is also an important aspect of the operation, because it causes the starter to engage with the ring gear on the transmission. If you notice the starter is free turning while cranking, the solenoid is likely the issue.
Look for the tiniest wire on the starter. First, you want to ensure that this connection is free from debris. You can bypass this wire with 12V of current coming from the battery with the help of another small wire.
Be warned that there could be a click sound when the jumper wire is connected. Now, try starting the engine again to see if the solenoid is to blame.
#5. Jump Start the Car.
At first glance, this solution doesn’t look like it’s valuable. After all, the fully-charged battery should already be supplying enough energy to the starter to get it working.
With that in mind, there have been times when a jump start has worked. The powerful supply of voltage might be enough to overcome that dead spot in the starter. Just don’t get your hopes up, because although it can sometimes work, it doesn’t usually.
#6. Bypass the Starter Solenoid.
This old trick has been used by mechanics for years. It’s a great option if you have an older model or if the starter can be reached easily.
To bypass the starter solenoid, you will need to touch a screwdriver to both the solenoid terminal and the positive terminal on the starter at the same time.
The starter terminal is constantly connected to the positive terminal on the battery, allowing you to bypass the relay with this trick. What you get is 12V of current moving straight to the solenoid, allowing the circuit to close and the car to start.
It is only recommended to do this with the starter on the bench for troubleshooting, because it can be very dangerous! Stay away from any moving parts!
#7. Push-Start the Car.
This solution only works with manual transmission vehicles, so there are limitations. However, if you have a stick shift vehicle, you can get the engine going by simply pushing the car down the road. This option works when the starter has failed or if you have a dead battery.
Gather some of your friends or family and put them behind your vehicle. Have them push it while you sit in the driver’s seat.
Once they get the vehicle moving at about ten mph, you can put the car in gear and try getting it started by letting go of the clutch.
When you remove your foot from the pedal, the engine is going to grab the power and turn over. You might need to try this method a few times before you get the hang of it.
However, you will still want to get the starter fixed even though you can get the car moving. Push starting a vehicle can cause additional wear on the drivetrain components. The last thing you want is damage to the clutch, flywheel or transmission.
Bad Starter Replacement Cost
To replace a bad starter, you might spend between $200 and $1,500. The new starter will likely cost $50 to $400, while the labor can run $150 to $1,100.
The starter’s location will have a lot to do with how much labor is charged, as some are easy to access while others are complicated.
If you decide to purchase a rebuilt starter, you might save yourself a little bit of money. You can also reduce the cost by learning how to install a starter at home.
Additionally, you might need to pay to have your vehicle towed if the starter dies while you are away and you are unable to get it running. That’s why it’s important to get the starter replaced at the first sign of trouble, so you don’t get stranded.
FAQs.
Q: How do you bypass a starter?
The best way to start a car with a starter with a bad or broken relay or fuse is by bypassing it. Hence, to bypass a starter, follow these simple steps.
- Locate the starter. It is usually located close to the engine and transmission system meeting point.
- Locate the connectors on the starter and the starter solenoid.
- Use a screwdriver to touch both connectors. You can also use a good wire that can transmit current to the connectors.
- Get a friend to help you turn the ignition to the ignition ON position. Or you can do this before carrying out step three above.
Q: How do you start a car with a bad start with a screwdriver?
Like bypassing a starter, starting a car with a bad starter requires the following;
- Locating the starter
- Locating the connectors on the starter and solenoid
- Turn your ignition key to ignition ON position
- Touch the electrical connectors on the starter motor and solenoid.
The car will definitely start if it has to do with relay issues. This is also a guide on how to start a car with a bad starter solenoid.
Q: What to do if the starter is not working?
If you notice your starter is not working, you can try any of the following;
- Look under the hood –Inspect the battery terminals and cables. Ensure everything is in working order.
- Tap the starter.
- Adjust the transmission –in case you won an automatic transmission, if the car is not starting in the ‘park’ position, you can try starting it in the neutral position. If the car starts in neutral, you want to seek professional advice.
- Check the gauge – This looks weird, right? But your car will not start if you have an empty gas tank.
Q: Can you hit a starter to make it start?
Yes, you can hit a starter to make it start. So, how long will tap the starter work? You don’t have to tap the starter for ages to make it work.
When you have a starter with faulty amateur segments or a lousy solenoid, tapping it a few times while someone is trying to start the car will definitely work.
Q: Can you jump-start a car with a bad starter?
Yes, you can jumpstart a car with a bad starter. if you have a well-charged battery that is transmitting optimum current to the starter, jumpstarting it may look like a weird thing to do, but trust me, it can work.
Final Thought
A lousy starter is a pain in the neck as it takes you unaware, mostly when there is a need for urgency.
However, the best practice is to contact a professional mechanic to check it out. There are still various ways to get your car back to the road without seeking professional advice.
From tapping the motor to bypassing the starter relay to push starting the car for those who use a manual transmission system.
There is always one option that will work for you. Hence, this article has clearly explained the various methods on how to start a car with a bad starter.
However, you must understand that as much as these methods will start your car, it is a temporary method and will not replace the need to fix your lousy starter.