MotivWerks advises that motor oil will leak all over the starter if you have cracked the head gasket because the starter is located underneath the cylinder block. Consequently, you will not only have to worry about the head gasket but also the starter dying prematurely. Normally, the starter will last 100,000 miles before you need to replace it. If you have an oil-saturated starter, it will die sooner than this. Here are signs that your starter is going bad and needs to be replaced.
Noises Before Ignition
If you don’t already know this, the starter facilitates the intake of air and fuel into the combustion chamber. It also sends electricity to the spark plugs through the plug wires. All of this happens before your vehicle fires up because your vehicle needs this to happen to fire up.
If the starter is having problems, it may make noises before your engine ignites. The most common sound a starter will make is clicking. This being said, the starter can also make a whirring sound. If the engine starts after the noise, drive straight to our shop so you don’t get stuck with…
An Engine That Won’t Start
Sometimes, the starter will only give you one warning or won’t give you a warning at all. Consequently, you may slide into the driver’s seat only to discover that you can’t get your car, truck, or utility vehicle started. This will leave you stranded, not to mention frustrated.
After you have tried a couple of times to get the engine started, stop trying. In this case, continuing in your efforts is not commendable because you will overheat the starter motor. This will cause burning odors in the engine as well as smoke.
The Lights Are Working
If you do not end up with burning odors and smoke, you may think that the reason why your engine will start is because you’ve got a dead battery. There is a way you can check this without a battery meter. Simply check all of the lights on your vehicle to see if they are working.
If they are not working, they are not receiving electricity from the battery or the alternator. Consequently, you do have a dead battery. If they are working, the battery and the alternator are fine. As such, it is a safe bet that your engine will start because the starter is dead.
MotivWerks in Chambersburg, PA, would be happy to help, so call us today to set up a service visit for your automobile.