A starter motor is an electrically-powered motor that starts your car's engine when you turn the ignition key.
A car's engine cannot be started unless it's already in motion. In the early days of automobiles, there was a hand-crank mechanism attached to the crankshaft that served this purpose. It wasn't too long, however, before this became an impractical method of starting a car. For one thing, it was dangerous; after you started the car, the hand-crank would continue rotating with the engine, heightening the risk of injury. The other major issue - one that is still present in cars today - is that it takes a lot of energy to move an engine from resting position. The starter motor was invented to solve this problem.
A starter motor has two main components: the motor itself and the starter solenoid. The motor is a device that is designed to output a rotational force to set the engine in motion. The starter solenoid is a little more difficult to understand unless you have a background in electrical engineering. But it isn't too complicated.
When you turn the key to start your car, an electrical switch is closed, activating the main electrical systems of the vehicle. A switch is a device that either closes or opens a circuit, like a light switch. One of the main components activated by the ignition switch is the starter solenoid.
The starter solenoid is a kind of switch that opens or closes when it receives a strong enough electrical current. When you turn the key to start your car, the solenoid will close its circuit and activate the starter motor if there is enough energy in your car's battery. If your car battery is low or dead, the starter solenoid will not close the starter motor's circuit and will make a rapid clicking noise instead.
If your car battery is in working condition, but you find that your car struggles to start or won't start at all, than you may need to have your starter motor replaced.
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