Imagine turning your car key over and instead of hearing the engine start, you either hear a clicking noise or nothing at all.
Aside from thinking, "Not now," your first thought might be that you have a dead battery, which would be a good guess in most cases. But upon further review, you notice the radio and dash lights still work, meaning it's not a battery issue.
If you find yourself in this situation, auto mechanics say it's likely the result of a faulty car starter.
WHAT IS A CAR STARTER?
A starter consists of a motor located near the transmission on most vehicles. It's typically only accessible from under the car.
The starter's job is to turn the engine over. When you turn the key, an electrical current is sent to the starter's solenoid, which gives the battery power to start the motor. The motor then engages a gear on the flywheel or flexplate to crank the engine.
SIGNS A STARTER IS FAILING
Bill Allen, owner of Mechanics Plus in Casselberry, Florida, says one of the most common reasons a starter fails is because of a power failure.
"Most vehicle no-start issues are (related to the starter itself) or an ignition issue that could range from power to the ignition, such as a battery connection, the ignition switch or the mechanical tumbler," Allen says.
It's important to note that when a car won't start, it's often related to a low battery or dirty battery connections. According to Repair Pal, corroded battery cables can cause the same symptoms as a faulty starter.
In other cases, you may hear a clicking sound. A prolonged cranking sound from the engine may also be an indication of a bad starter.
"When the car makes a single loud click from under the hood, it's usually the starter," Allen says. "If there is no sound at all, it's usually the ignition switch. If the engine turns over without starting, it could be the computer chip built into the key, and the security will not allow it to start."
THE COST OF
REPLACING A STARTER
According to Repair Pal, replacing a car starter averages $344 to $562. The labor cost, on average, runs $128 to $163, while parts cost $216 to $399.
Allen says he charges around $180 for a new car starter and $130 for labor costs.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Tom Moor is an automotive reporter at www.AngiesList.com, a trusted provider of local consumer reviews and an online marketplace of services from top-rated providers.