When To Change Your Starter

When you put your key in your ignition or press your starter button, a complicated series of events fire off to almost simultaneously get your engine to turn on. Most of us don’t think much about this process, but the timing of this 1-2 second ignition process is impressive. Even if one of your starting systems fails, your engine will not turn on. Diagnosing this issue can be difficult, especially for DIY mechanics and smaller or more inexperienced shops, as pulling parts out to find the source of the issue can, oftentimes, be more expensive than the fix itself. Here at your local Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers, we know how important it is to get the job done right — the first time — and to smartly and quickly get straight to the root of the issue. Come into one of your local Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers today to have our expert team of experienced and certified service technicians keep your car starting, and running, without a hitch for years to come.

What Is The Vehicle Starter?

Your vehicle starter is a small DC electric motor that is powered by your battery. When you put your key in your ignition or press your starter button, your vehicle’s wiring sends a signal to your starter motor which, in turn, engages a small gear that begins turning over your engine at a low RPM, to fire it up. In order for this whole process to work, your battery needs to have enough charge to send the required electricity to the starter. As long as your battery is charged and your starter motor is working efficiently, the entire process should take no more than a few seconds. So, what should you do if this process is taking substantially longer, or if your car just won’t fire up?

Signs Your Starter Is Failing

Starters can be finicky — some will last you for years; others may only last you 20 minutes. The most important thing is to use a quality starter, which may be a bit more expensive to buy, but it will save you tons of money in the long run. Starters rarely just die without any warning so, if you are a proactive car owner, you will probably know well ahead of time if your starter is on its way out. If you notice your engine isn’t turning over on your first try, or it is taking substantially longer to fire up, you should have both your starter and your battery inspected. You may also hear a grinding or whining sound coming from your starter, which could mean the gears themselves are stripping or grinding against one another. If you hear any of these sounds, come into one of your local Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers to get your vehicle inspected today.

You can easily save yourself some headaches and a lot of time this year by being proactive about changing out your starter. If you have noticed any of the above symptoms, take your car into one of your local Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers today. Our expert teams of experienced and certified service technicians will get you fixed up and back on the road in no time.