Starter Motor Explained - How a car's electric starter motor works
video description
Date: 2023-11-17
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 27
alochrome
They were Bendix Starters in my day. The motor would throw a spinning pinion at the gear ring on the flywheel, using inertia to drive it forward on a spiral spline. There was a real possibility of causing wear and damage to the gear ring on the flywheel, after which the starter instead of engaging would make a loud shriek of clashing gear teeth. You could get the same effect by pressing the starter button/key when the engine was already running - guaranteed to do damage. Once the engine was running faster than the starter motor, the pinion would self disengage and run back down the spiral spline. There was a big spring on the shaft which helped this happen.
reply
They were Bendix Starters in my day. The motor would throw a spinning pinion at the gear ring on the flywheel, using inertia to drive it forward on a spiral spline. There was a real possibility of causing wear and damage to the gear ring on the flywheel, after which the starter instead of engaging would make a loud shriek of clashing gear teeth. You could get the same effect by pressing the starter button/key when the engine was already running - guaranteed to do damage. Once the engine was running faster than the starter motor, the pinion would self disengage and run back down the spiral spline. There was a big spring on the shaft which helped this happen.
reply
ellomirza
Weird. When I took a starter apart to figure out how it works I assumed the splined shaft of the motor pitched the starter gear into the flywheel with centrifugal force and the solenoid pulled it back in after the engine started. I couldnt spin the starter motor by hand without it pushing the gear out I cant imagine how hard it must get flung with electricity spinning the motor. The one I took apart had a planetary gear set. To diagnose a faulty starter just short it. Short it with a screwdriver at the starter itself. Short it with a wire from the battery to the starter or short the starter relay in the fusebox.
reply
Weird. When I took a starter apart to figure out how it works I assumed the splined shaft of the motor pitched the starter gear into the flywheel with centrifugal force and the solenoid pulled it back in after the engine started. I couldnt spin the starter motor by hand without it pushing the gear out I cant imagine how hard it must get flung with electricity spinning the motor. The one I took apart had a planetary gear set. To diagnose a faulty starter just short it. Short it with a screwdriver at the starter itself. Short it with a wire from the battery to the starter or short the starter relay in the fusebox.
reply
education
1: 53
Don't you mean that because the pinion gear is small in relation to the flywheel the pinion gear must rotate fast but can have relatively little torque? AFAIK that's the normal way these transmissions work.
Just think of the bicycle as an example:
- high gear means big cog turns smaller cog (via chain) and needs high torque to get up to speed.
- low gear means small/same-sized cog turns same/bigger-sized cog (via chain) and needs little torque but high RPM to get up to speed.
reply
1: 53
Don't you mean that because the pinion gear is small in relation to the flywheel the pinion gear must rotate fast but can have relatively little torque? AFAIK that's the normal way these transmissions work.
Just think of the bicycle as an example:
- high gear means big cog turns smaller cog (via chain) and needs high torque to get up to speed.
- low gear means small/same-sized cog turns same/bigger-sized cog (via chain) and needs little torque but high RPM to get up to speed.
reply
Gary
You can diagnose a possible faulty starter motor by measuring voltage of the thick wire of the starter when you have someone turn the key all the way to start. You can also jump the 12 Volt signal S post of the solenoid to the large post going to the starter with a piece of wire or metal object to test for a faulty solenoid.
reply
You can diagnose a possible faulty starter motor by measuring voltage of the thick wire of the starter when you have someone turn the key all the way to start. You can also jump the 12 Volt signal S post of the solenoid to the large post going to the starter with a piece of wire or metal object to test for a faulty solenoid.
reply
Vernon
At 0: 53 i can tell that engine is an NET turbo either 1. 4 or 1. 6 I know this because i literally rebuild 1 of these every week. Fun fact about them. the heads seem to blow quite easily and rubber the separates water from oil in the oil cooler can crack and cause engine failure
reply
At 0: 53 i can tell that engine is an NET turbo either 1. 4 or 1. 6 I know this because i literally rebuild 1 of these every week. Fun fact about them. the heads seem to blow quite easily and rubber the separates water from oil in the oil cooler can crack and cause engine failure
reply
MH
Got a brand new Explorer Titanium last March. It takes quite some getting used to, pressing a button to start it and shut it off. Frikkin cameras all over the thing too; traffic light engine shutdown (this feature scared my wife into thinking she broke it on the first day.
reply
Got a brand new Explorer Titanium last March. It takes quite some getting used to, pressing a button to start it and shut it off. Frikkin cameras all over the thing too; traffic light engine shutdown (this feature scared my wife into thinking she broke it on the first day.
reply
PARTHA
We faced a peculiar situation in which the starter motor pinion was engaged with the flywheel and turned but the engine was not rotating. we removed the starter motor and checked and found it is working fine, But Why the engine was not rotated?
reply
We faced a peculiar situation in which the starter motor pinion was engaged with the flywheel and turned but the engine was not rotating. we removed the starter motor and checked and found it is working fine, But Why the engine was not rotated?
reply
Daniel
Question: Does the electricity for the pull in coil go through the windings of the motor to go back to the battery (negative side? If it does, won't it start the motor itself already because it has a little potential voltage going through it?
reply
Question: Does the electricity for the pull in coil go through the windings of the motor to go back to the battery (negative side? If it does, won't it start the motor itself already because it has a little potential voltage going through it?
reply
plank
At 8: 00 min. When pulling coil is energised current is passing through motor coil then reaches negative. Does not it make humming sound of motor as it will try to rotate armature (not possible due to low current?
reply
At 8: 00 min. When pulling coil is energised current is passing through motor coil then reaches negative. Does not it make humming sound of motor as it will try to rotate armature (not possible due to low current?
reply
alexandra2
Motives me to find my physics book from school and re-learn some topics. This is what should be taught in schools because it makes you really interested in the topic. Thank you for your great video!
reply
Motives me to find my physics book from school and re-learn some topics. This is what should be taught in schools because it makes you really interested in the topic. Thank you for your great video!
reply
Gary.
What 2 do if u have constant starting problems that come and go? starts good 4 a week or 6mos and all of sudden nothing no sound, and then bang with hammer and then good again maybe this time for 2mos.
reply
What 2 do if u have constant starting problems that come and go? starts good 4 a week or 6mos and all of sudden nothing no sound, and then bang with hammer and then good again maybe this time for 2mos.
reply
PlasmaJunkie
Why are cars still only working with 12 volts? I know it's just been that way forever, but its not like we couldn't use 24v or 48v batteries and step down the voltage for legacy applications.
reply
Why are cars still only working with 12 volts? I know it's just been that way forever, but its not like we couldn't use 24v or 48v batteries and step down the voltage for legacy applications.
reply
Wes
Is there another way to explain the overrunning clutch and the rollers? That's the only part I can't get my head around. The engaging and disengaging of the rollers to protect the motor and pinion.
reply
Is there another way to explain the overrunning clutch and the rollers? That's the only part I can't get my head around. The engaging and disengaging of the rollers to protect the motor and pinion.
reply
gary
The Inventor of this wonderful piece of kit, Charles F Kettering, and was fitted for the first time on a Cadillac in 1912. Genius is word sometimes overused, not in this case. Great Video.
reply
The Inventor of this wonderful piece of kit, Charles F Kettering, and was fitted for the first time on a Cadillac in 1912. Genius is word sometimes overused, not in this case. Great Video.
reply
Gustavo
If it doesn't start try tapping it a few times. If it doesn't work then turn the key on, push the vehicle and when you get some speed just engage second gear. It always works
reply
If it doesn't start try tapping it a few times. If it doesn't work then turn the key on, push the vehicle and when you get some speed just engage second gear. It always works
reply
Just
Im a foreman electrician. and I understand how light years above in knowledge electrical you guys are. Its almost discouraging to believe you guys have got this figured out:
reply
Im a foreman electrician. and I understand how light years above in knowledge electrical you guys are. Its almost discouraging to believe you guys have got this figured out:
reply
mrsemifixit
When the contactor plate makes contact across the terminals, the pull in winding becomes 0v because both of its become connected to the positive of the battery?
reply
When the contactor plate makes contact across the terminals, the pull in winding becomes 0v because both of its become connected to the positive of the battery?
reply
education
Do you often use planetary gears for start motors that are produced recently? What is the difference between the two methods? (Benefits and Disadvantages)
reply
Do you often use planetary gears for start motors that are produced recently? What is the difference between the two methods? (Benefits and Disadvantages)
reply
Matthew
Is this the same guy who has all of this knowledge on these copious aspects of engineering? If so what is your background and how did you get where you are?
reply
Is this the same guy who has all of this knowledge on these copious aspects of engineering? If so what is your background and how did you get where you are?
reply
Goat_Voat_Tastic
There's a lot more to that than I thought there would be. Multiple disciplines all working together, all rolled up into a nice little package.
reply
There's a lot more to that than I thought there would be. Multiple disciplines all working together, all rolled up into a nice little package.
reply
bylo
the easiest way to diagnose a starter is to bypass the control system, just apply the power straight to it using a jumper of whatever sort
reply
the easiest way to diagnose a starter is to bypass the control system, just apply the power straight to it using a jumper of whatever sort
reply
Priscilla
If youre jumping a car, never hook up the dead battery cable to the negative post, use the chassis or find another grounding point.
reply
If youre jumping a car, never hook up the dead battery cable to the negative post, use the chassis or find another grounding point.
reply
Olof
The overrunning clutch can fail and slip. Tricky fault to find since everything looks like it's working. Ask me how I know.
reply
The overrunning clutch can fail and slip. Tricky fault to find since everything looks like it's working. Ask me how I know.
reply
Rich
Can someone explain why voltage becomes zero and current ceases to flow through pull in coil when plate closes? Thanks.
reply
Can someone explain why voltage becomes zero and current ceases to flow through pull in coil when plate closes? Thanks.
reply
Darth
The engine is grounded directly to the battery and the frame. The frame is ground to the battery and the engine.
reply
The engine is grounded directly to the battery and the frame. The frame is ground to the battery and the engine.
reply
education
In some applications of starter motor, we can find a starter relay. What is the function of a starter relay.
reply
In some applications of starter motor, we can find a starter relay. What is the function of a starter relay.
reply
ryanburbridge
You find these in electric cars as well. The only difference is they start the wheels not the engine.
reply
You find these in electric cars as well. The only difference is they start the wheels not the engine.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
