Troubleshooting an Engine

That Won’t Turn Over

by Dirk Burt

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Contents:
Introduction ......................................................1

Safety Precautions............................................. 1

Tools and Materials Needed............................. 1

Troubleshooting Steps.....................................1-3

Conclusion..........................................................3

Glossary...............................................................4

© Dirk Burt 2010

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Introduction: This guide will lead even the most
Since the beginning of the 20th inexperienced mechanic through the
century the internal combustion engine troubleshooting process that will allow you
powered automobile has grown to determine what part of your electric
progressively more efficient and reliable. start system has failed. It will not overtly
However, due to the inevitability of demonstrate how to fix the problem once it
material fatigue and other normal wear and has been determined, though some of the
tear, cars do still break down. While a car diagnostic steps can end up being solutions.
can fail to start for a myriad of reasons, one
of the more common systems to fail is the Safety Precautions:
electric start system. A n a u to m o b i l e i s a l a r g e a n d
powerful machine which can cause serious
bodily injur y in many different ways.
Always keep clear of moving or hot parts,
and avoid contact with the various toxic
chemicals contained within and emitted
from the vehicle. It is always a good idea to
wear protective goggles and clothing made
of non-flammable material. In addition to
these cautions, please pay close attention to
the manufacturer’s safety information.
Fig.1: Starter circuit
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/
reference/graphics/electricStart/ Tools and Materials Needed:
electricStart734x510.png
• Jumper Cables
The internal combustion engine • Multimeter
must revolve several times for it to start. All • Set of Wrenches
modern automobiles are equipped with an • High temperature automotive wire and
electric start system to accomplish this. associated connectors (will vary from
This system is comprised of a battery vehicle to vehicle)
which powers an electric motor, and a gear • 12-volt electric battery charger
on the electric motor which engages a
ring-gear on the edge of the engine’s Troubleshooting Steps:
flywheel to revolve the engine. The 1. Put key in ignition and turn it to
ignition switch, actuated by the car key, the start position. Does the car
initiates this sequence. When the electric make a grinding sound? If so, the
start system is not working, the engine will problem probably involves the
not revolve and, therefore, can not start. starter gear, and/or the flywheel and
will not be covered in this tutorial.
If not, proceed to the next step.

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2. Turn on the headlights and battery. It is possible, however, that
watch what they do when you turn the battery can no longer hold a
the key. If they do not change in charge, necessitating replacement.
intensity, power is not making it to If the voltage doesn’t drop below 6
the starter. This could be an issue volts when turning the key, proceed
with the ignition switch, a safety to the next step.
switch, a fuse and/or a bad wiring
connection. Check all of these for
failure and fix or replace as
necessary. If the headlights dim
when you turn the key, proceed to
the next step.

Caution: Automobile (lead-acid)

batteries occasionally emit
explosive hydrogen gas. Always
work with your battery in a well Fig.2: Testing battery voltage
ventilated location and keep it
disconnected when removing or
installing wires and components.
This will minimize the danger of
sparks igniting the hydrogen.

3. Dimming headlights indicate a

number of possible problems. The
first step is to check the battery
voltage. Turn the headlights back
off an run the leads of a multimeter
Fig.3: Solenoid and starter motor
to their corresponding batter y
posts. The meter should read
4. Assuming the engine is not
between 12 and 14 volts. Next, have
s e i z e d ( i n te r n a l l y j a m m e d o r
someone turn the key while you use
rusted), the next step is to test the
the multimeter. If the voltage drops
solenoid for failure. To do this,
below 6 volts, your batter y is
simply by pass it by r unning a
drained and will have to be charged
jumper cable from the positive
using a 12-volt battery charger.
terminal on the batter y to the
positive terminal on the starter. If
Alternately, you can try jump
the starter motor spins vigorously,
starting the car. If the dead battery
the solenoid is faulty and should be
is your only problem, jump starting
replaced. If not, proceed to the next
the car should work and you’ll be
step.
able to let the car charge the
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5. Although you do not yet know if above, your starter must be
the solenoid is faulty, at this point it replaced or rebuilt. After installing
is clear that something else is also a working starter motor, proceed to
broken. The next part to check is the next step.
the starter motor itself. The best
way to do this is to bench test it. 6. After everything is properly
Most starters are fairly easy to hooked back up, turn the key. If the
remove: simply disconnect the engine doesn’t turn over, repeat step
wires running to it and remove the 4. If the engine still does not turn
2-4 bolts holding it to the over, replace the solenoid.
bellhousing. Make sure you have
labeled all of the wires and placed 7. Your electric start system should
the bolts in a safe place so that now be operational. If the engine
nothing is lost or forgotten. still will not turn over, recheck all
of your wires, fuses and
Once you have removed the connections.
starter, bring it and a charged car
battery to a workbench. Run the Conclusion:
black jumper cable from the ground This procedure is based on the
terminal on the starter to the author’s personal experience. While these
negative terminal on the battery. steps should be sufficient to guide you
Then, attach one end of the red through the electric start system diagnosis
j u m p e r c a b l e to t h e p o s i t i v e process, it is possible that your car trouble
terminal on the battery. Secure the may be more complex than what is
starter and touch the other end of described here. As automobiles become
the red cable to the hot terminal on increasingly computerized, the number of
the starter. The motor should spin repair procedures possible for the amateur
vigorously without making any loud mechanic decrease drastically.
grinding or scraping sounds. Pay If you closely follow these steps and
close attention to the gear on the are still unable to determine what the
starter shaft. All of its teeth must problem is with your vehicle, don’t hesitate
be intact and it must slide up or to h a v e i t to w e d to a p r o f e s s i o n a l
down the shaft (depending on the mechanic. The key to being an amateur
starter design) when the motor mechanic is knowing your limits and
spins. maintaining a balance between the money
you save by doing the work yourself and the
If, after making sure all of your time you save by paying someone to do it
connections are sound, the motor for you.
does not spin or it does not
function in the way described

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Glossary: Vo l t a g e - T h e e l e c t r i c a l p o te n t i a l
difference between 2 electrical
Bellhousing - The curved metal housing conductors. Most car batteries are
that joins the engine and rated at 12 volts.
transmission and covers the clutch/
flywheel assembly.
Bench test - The method of testing a
mechanical part for proper
functionality by isolating it from the
other parts of the system of which it
is a part. The term gets its name
f rom the common practice of
removing parts from a machine and
testing them on a workbench.

Flywheel - A metal disk attached to the

engine’s crankshaft which is, among
other functions, turned by the
starter motor, thereby revolving the
engine.
Multimeter - An electronic measuring
device that tests voltage, current
and resistance.
Safety Switch - Many automobiles are
equipped with safety switches in the
the brake, clutch or transmission
which stop current from reaching
the starter motor when the brake or
clutch is not fully depressed or the
car is in gear.
Solenoid - An electromagnetic relay which
receives small electric current from
the ignition switch, triggering it to
allow large electric current from the
battery to reach the starter motor.
Starter Motor - A large 12 volt motor
which enga ges the flywheel to
revolve a vehicle’s engine.