What Are the Symptoms of a Bad Starter on a Car?
- by Bryan Veldboom - updated on 1/14/2021
We've all experienced the frustration of walking out to our car only to find that the engine won't start. When that happens, there are a number of potential causes. It could be that you have a dead battery on your hands. If your battery's not to blame, you might be dealing with a malfunctioning starter. Find out how to determine if your vehicle's starter is bad and what you can do about it.
Is It My Battery or Starter?
There are a number of warning signs that your starter might be going. If it takes you a long time to start your vehicle, it could be caused by a faulty starter. That particular issue can also related to both weather or a weak battery though, so you'll want to look at a few other signs too.
Next, try listening to the sounds your engine makes. A bad starter often makes a kind of clicking noise when you try turning over the engine. You may also hear a kind of whirring or grinding noise. You can also try jump starting your car. If the issue is a bad battery, jump starting it should fix the problem. If you're still not having any luck afterwards, that's another sign that it could be a bad starter.
Nonda Vehicle Testing Products
Nonda offers a number of products that let you monitor the health of your vehicle to determine what's causing the problem. The ZUS Smart Car Charger includes a Battery Health Monitor that keeps track of your vehicle's battery voltage and even sends alerts if there's a problem.
The Nonda Smart Vehicle Health Monitor goes even further. It plugs right into your vehicle's OBDII port and allows you to scan your engine to detect any anomalies. It also keeps tabs on your engine’s health with real-time alerts and allows you to clear vehicle error codes yourself without having to visit the dealership.
Another simple way to determine what's wrong with your car is to bring it your local Batteries Plus. We can test your battery, starter and alternator for free. While we do not offer starter repair services at this time, we can help you determine what’s causing the problem and provide you with valuable piece of mind. Plus, if it turns out to be a bad battery after all, we can replace it for you same day.