It’s a simple thing, but your car just can’t work without it. Your car’s engine begins pumping through the use of a car starter. Car repair Austin Texas makes our lives easier. However, when your starter goes bad, the unthinkable happens; your car won’t start. This information can help you identify the problem should it ever happen to you. If it is out of your control then contact a auto repair Austin Texas shop.
The Starter – Not As Simple As You Might Think
An internal combustion engine works when a spark gets the fuel running through a series of cylinders causing pistons to go up and down, producing the energy needed to turn the car’s wheels. The engine runs through a cycle where one piston will move, followed by the next and the next and so on until it goes to the starting cylinder again. Once the engine is in motion, and as long as there is a battery and fuel in the car to keep the cylinders pumping, the engine will continue to run. But the cylinders have to be set in motion in the first place in order for the engine to begin. This is where the starter comes in.
In the earliest vehicles, the engine was set in motion by use of a hand crank. Gasoline lawnmowers work on this same principle. In this scenario you physically spin the engine’s starting mechanism to set the pistons in motion, using a physical spark to ignite the fuel and start the process. The original hand cranks had their problems. If you did not remove the crank immediately upon starting the engine, it would start spinning at the pace of the engine. Many early motorists received broken arms when they didn’t get out of the way in time.
In the nineteen thirties, car companies developed the electric starter. Instead of using arm power to start the spark, the process uses a small electric motor. When you put your key in the ignition and turn, this causes the car’s battery to engage the starter solenoid which engages a small turning shaft into the actual starter which itself turns to create a spark in the engine, causing the fuel to ignite and the pistons to start.
The use of a key in the process, though, is a fairly new development and one brought about for reasons of security more than anything else. Early versions of cars usually had their starter buttons on the floor, above the gas pedal, or on the dashboard. Keyless starting is becoming common again with the advent of remote control starters which engage the solenoid by means of an electronic radio signal.
What Do I Do When My Starter Won’t Work?
When you turn the key but the starter doesn’t work, one of two components has probably gone bad: the solenoid or the starter itself. Wear from use can cause either of these items to fail, but it is usually the solenoid that gets the most use and is therefore most likely to be the culprit. You may need to look into Austin Transmission Repair shop too.
Can I fix it myself? The solenoid, quite possibly, if you have the tools and the skills. Depending on your make of car the starter will be more difficult to replace. An authorized shop can easily diagnose the problem and fix either of these items. Be sure and talk to us about flowmaster exhaust Austin as well as any other questions about automotive repair. With the heat rising don’t forget to inquire about ac repair Austin TX.
About the Author: Brandon Adams is the author of man popular articles on the automotive repair industry.
Leonard’s Garage & Service Center
4401 South 1st Street
Austin, TX 78745-1924
(512) 445-2892
Leonard’s Garage & Service Center
4401 South 1st Street
Austin, TX 78745-1924
(512) 445-2892