Why does tapping a starter make it work

How do you bypass a starter? Can you jump a car if the starter is bad? Can you fix a bad starter? How long can you go with a bad starter? How do I know if its the starter or the ignition switch?

What does it mean when you try to start your car and it just clicks? Can a starter lock up an engine? Can a bad starter kill an alternator? What are signs your alternator is going out? Can a bad alternator cause engine to shake? When you turn the ignition key to the START position, the battery voltage goes through the starter control circuit and activates the starter solenoid, which in turn energizes the starter motor.

At the same time, the starter solenoid pushes the starter gear forward to mesh it with the engine flywheel flex-plate in an automatic transmission. The flywheel is attached to the engine crankshaft. The starter motor spins, turning over the engine crankshaft allowing the engine to start.

A starter is essentially an electric motor with graphite brushes inside, and over time, they wear out. If a little moisture gets in the housing and rusts up the brushes and brush holders, or the brushes are nearly worn out, gently rapping on the starter housing can sometimes free them up, letting them make enough contact to make the starter work.

Well, a non-working starter can be annoying, but a series of simple tricks might be enough to put it back in order. The tips described below are the best possible ways to instill life into a dead starter.

Try them one by one until you find a solution. The starter is an electric motor and a part of an electrical circuit. It sets the engine of a vehicle in motion. Check the joint of all the connecting cables between the battery and the starter. Tighten everything because a loose connection means less flow of current to the starter.

Corrosion could also be the culprit in obstructing the flow of electrical current. The dirt and grease can accumulate on the starter and the car battery , and corrode the cable clamps and terminals of the battery. Usually in the its the commutator which will have a "bad spot" on it. This will cause the starter motor not to turn, because electricity cannot flow correctly. Banging on the starter can sometimes give enough of a jolt to the brushes where they will once again have the correct contact with the commutator and will allow electricity to flow.

As an aside, I once had a '91 Chevy Suburban which the starter died on it. In this application, banging on the starter didn't work. I took the starter apart to find that brushes, which were held onto swing arms with screws, had worn down to the screws a couple of the screws were riding on the commutator.

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