Inside your European automobile’s engine is a tiny motor that is called the starter. The reason why this part is called the starter is that your engine cannot start without it. On average, you can expect to get 100,000 miles to 150,000 miles out of the starter that was installed when your engine was built. Once you’ve put this mileage on your car or crossover, there’s a good chance that the starter will go bad. East Coast EuroWerks is going to list the symptoms of a bad starter below.
Clicking Noises
A common symptom is clicking noises when you try to start your European automobile. Most people think that you will always get these clicking sounds before the starter dies, but this is not the case. Sometimes, the starter will go out without making any noise at all. This being said, if you hear clicking sounds as you are starting your automobile, it’s time to replace the starter.
Dead Engine
Your engine may also get harder and harder to fire up. Eventually, once the starter dies, the engine will be dead. As we said above, your engine needs the starter to start. Without an operational starter, the engine is unable to ignite the air and fuel in the combustion chamber to start running. Unfortunately, no matter what you do, if the starter is dead, you won’t be able to start your car or crossover.
Lights
One way to eliminate the alternator or battery as the problem is to check your vehicle’s lights. If you have a dead engine but the lights work, you have power coming from the alternator and battery. This means that the reason why your engine is dead is the starter is dead. If you do not have any lights, this is an indication that the battery has died and it could be because the alternator is faulty.
Smoke
If you see smoke coming out from underneath your hood, this, too, points to a problem with the starter. If your engine is dead yet you try multiple times to start it, you will overheat the starter motor and it will begin to smoke. You will see the smoke floating out from underneath your hood.
Oil
Finally, your starter can die even if you don’t have 100,000 miles on your European automobile. If you have a leaking engine gasket, oil may be dripping out of the cylinder block and soaking the starter. When this happens, it kills it.
East Coast EuroWerks in Wilmington, NC, would be happy to test your starter if you suspect it is going out. Call us today to set up an appointment.
