How to Test a Car Starter Motor?

The car won't start? The car won't start? Or sometimes the engine makes a "clicking" sound but won't start? In most of these cases, there is something wrong with the starter motor. Don't panic! Today MyMROmarts will teach you how to test the car starter motor and help you find the root cause of the problem step by step. Whether you want to test it yourself or want to understand the testing process, mastering some basic skills can make you more comfortable in your life as a car owner! Next, let's take a look at how to test your car starter motor most simply!

 

What Is a Car Starter Motor?

Before we begin testing, let's take a quick look at what a starter motor is. The engine starter motor is part of the car's starting system. Its job is to provide the engine with the rotational power it needs to start. When you turn the key, the starter motor starts working. It drives the flywheel with an electric current, which turns the engine and starts the car. When the starter motor fails, your car will most likely not start smoothly.

 

How to Test Starter Motor on Car?

1. Check the battery charge

Before you do any testing, make sure the battery has enough charge. Without battery power, the starter motor won't work at all. You can check this by observing if the dashboard light is on or by measuring the battery voltage with a voltmeter. When you find that the battery is low, it is recommended to charge or replace the battery before testing.

 

2. Check the starter motor wiring

When the battery is OK, the next step is to examine the starter motor wiring. examine if the cables and connection terminals between the beginning motor and the battery are loose or broken. If the wiring is poor, the electricity cannot flow to the starter motor properly.

 

3. Listen to the starter motor

One of the easiest methods of testing is this stage. If the engine does not start and the starter motor produces a "clicking" or "beeping" sound when you attempt to start it. A malfunctioning electromagnetic switch within the starter motor could be the cause of this. When the starter motor is operating correctly, it should normally produce a sharp turning sound. If it merely emits a "buzzing" sound, the motor itself might be the issue.

 

4. Perform a voltage test

If the sound is acceptable, you can check if the starter motor is receiving adequate current with a multimeter. Before testing, attach the multimeter's negative terminal to the metal portion of the vehicle's body. Start the engine, connect the multimeter's positive terminal to the starter motor cable's port, and then check the voltage reading the multimeter displays. The voltage ought to be near the battery voltage in most situations. It indicates that the starter motor's power supply is inadequate if it is less than 12V.

 

5. Check whether the starter motor is overheating

The starter motor may overheat after extended use and stop functioning properly. After attempting to ignite the starter motor, you can touch its casing. Extreme heat indicates that the starter motor hasn't completely cooled down after a lengthy run. This could indicate a flaw. You should either replace the starter motor or wait for it to cool down before checking.

 

6. Test the starter motor with an external battery

If you are not confident in your test or want to judge the problem more intuitively, you can consider testing with an external battery. Connect the external battery directly to the starter motor to simulate whether the battery power is sufficient to start the motor. If the external battery can start the motor normally, then the problem may be with the original car battery. Otherwise, it means that the starter motor itself is faulty.

 

When Does It Need to Replace the Starter Motor?

It's time to think about getting a new starter motor if yours still doesn't work right after several checks or if it acts shakily every time you start it. Repairing a starter motor that has been badly worn out or has internal parts damaged is frequently more expensive than replacing it on time, which can guarantee normal car use and prevent needless problems.

 

Testing the car starter motor is not complicated. Through some simple inspections and tests, you can quickly find out whether it is a problem with the starter motor. Of course, if you don't know how to operate it, you can also send the car to a professional repair point for testing. In daily use, keeping the starter motor clean and powered is an important measure to extend its service life.