How a car starter works - video of the principle of operation

The starter is a small DC electric motor that allows your car to start with ease after a full turn of the key in the ignition. Any starter consists of the following main parts:

• electric motor;
• retractor relay;
• starter bendix.

Each of these parts performs its function:

• the electric motor sets the entire system in motion, the power is supplied directly from the car battery;
• the retractor relay moves the bendix to the crankshaft flywheel and then closes the contacts of the electric motor after the bendix gear engages with the crankshaft flywheel crown;
• the bendix transmits rotation from the starter motor to the crankshaft flywheel.

Thus, if any of the starter parts fail, starting the car will be problematic. The starter will also not be able to operate if the battery is dead and does not provide enough power to power the starter motor.

How the starter works and what it consists of, they take part in driver courses and you need to know this in order to independently figure out why your car won’t start.

How the starter works:

• turning the ignition key all the way to the right, you ensure the flow of current from the battery to the coil of the retractor relay;
• the bendix is ​​driven by the armature of the solenoid relay;
• the bendix gear engages with the crankshaft flywheel, at the same moment the solenoid relay closes the contacts and the current from the battery enters the starter motor winding, thereby ensuring the rotation of the bendix gear and the transfer of momentum to the crankshaft;
• the engine is started - the rotation of the crankshaft is transmitted to the pistons through the connecting rods, the combustible mixture begins to flow and explode in the combustion chambers of the pistons;
• when the flywheel spins faster than the armature, the bendix is ​​disconnected from the flywheel crown and the return spring returns it to its place;
• you turn the ignition key to the left and the starter is no longer energized.

This whole operation takes a few seconds.

As you can see, all parts of the starter are under tremendous stress. Most often, it is the bendix and the gear itself for clutching the flywheel that fail. You can change it yourself, the main thing is that the new one fits the number of teeth, otherwise you will have to change the flywheel crown, but it costs much more. Do not forget to also monitor the state of the electrolyte and battery charge.

Loading…