Let’s delve into the car starting system! Owing a car is undoubtedly a good thing as you can travel at your own convenience whenever required, but having no clue how your car works or the basic working principles of your car can lead you to a problematic circumstance.
So owning a car and also knowing to fix any minor issues can save your day. So in this article, we have discussed the car starting system and its working principles and many other valuable things for your knowledge.
What is Car Starting System?
The car starting system is mostly influenced by starter motors, these are electric motors that rotate your engine in order to allow the spark plugs and fuel injection system in order to ignite the fuel and begin the engine running on its own power once the starter motor is turned on.
- There are several types of starters that are used in vehicles. Simply put, the starter is an electric motor connected to a stator coil mounted on the bottom of the vehicle’s transmission bell housing, and it connects to the engine via its connections.
- This starts the engine with a starter gear which meshes with a large flywheel gear that turns the crankshaft on the backside of the engine, which is driven by an electric motor.
- As a result of this amount of physical weight and friction, starter motors are generally powerful, high-speed motors that use a coil to boost their power before they engage, because they have a lot of physical weight and friction to overcome.
- Starter motors are powered by 12-volt batteries that make up the main battery of the car. To start the engine, the starter motor requires a large amount of electrical power, which means that the battery must be charged enough so the starter motor can turn over the engine.
- A discharged battery might cause the lights in the car to work, but it won’t be able to provide enough power to start the engine when the battery is discharged.
Various Components in Car Starting System
Listed below are a few components of Starting System in a car:-
01. Neutral safety switches of a car
If the starter switch is open, and the car is in any other gear except Neutral or Park, the starter circuit will be open, and the vehicle will start. Normally, the transmission linkage or the transmission itself will be connected to this switch by means of a cable. There are many cars out there that use the same switch when putting the transmission in reverse in order to supply power to the backup lights.
There is a standard connection to the clutch pedal on cars with a transmission that will stop the starter from engaging until the clutch pedal is depressed on cars with a transmission with a standard connection. It is usually an indication that the shifter needs to be moved away from the park or neutral position to get the car started if you find that this has to be adjusted when you try to start the car. A neutral safety switch is also responsible for controlling the automatic release of the parking brake if your car has one.
02. The battery of a car
The automotive battery, which is also referred to as a lead-acid battery, functions electrochemically in the sense that it produces voltage and delivers current through an electrochemical reaction. When an automotive battery is reversed electrochemically, we can recharge the battery, and as a result, it will last us for many years to come, since it is able to revert the electrochemical reaction.
When the demand on the alternator is greater than the capacity of the battery, the battery will provide additional current to the starter motor, as well as supply current to the ignition system while cranking the engine. Additionally, the battery will act as an electrical reservoir when the demand for the alternator is high.
03. Starter Relay device of a car
With the help of a starter relay, a small amount of electricity can be used to control a large amount of current at once. The ignition starter of an automobile is used to start the engine by consuming a high current, more or less 250-270 amps, as a source of energy. The ignition switch would have to be able to carry that much current through it, and we would also have to use wires that are at least the size of battery cables if we wanted to provide that much current.
Between the battery and the starter, there is a starter relay that is connected in series. A starter solenoid can also be used in some cars to accomplish the same purpose of controlling a large amount of current from the ignition switch to the starter by allowing a small amount of current to flow from the ignition switch to it. In some cases, the starter solenoid is also capable of engaging the starter gear with the engine by mechanically engaging it with the starter.
04. Starter Motor of a car
It is an electric motor that has a small gear or pin attached to the end, which is used as a starter motor. As soon as the gear is activated, it meshes with a larger gear attached to the engine, which is referred to as the ring. In order to start the engine, the starter motor turns the engine over, thus allowing the piston to draw in a mixture of fuel and air, which is ignited when the starter motor is turned on.
A device called an overrunning clutch also known as the Bendix drive, disengages the starter gear from the engine gear automatically when the engine starts spinning faster than the starter.
05. Cables connected to the battery of a car
When a car’s battery is connected to the starter motor, the cables that are usually attached to the battery have a large diameter and are multi-stranded. These cables can carry a high current, for example, 250-270 amps, which is usually needed to power up the starter motor to get it started.
It is not uncommon for some terminals to be soldered with a smaller wire, which is usually used to provide an alternate ground or to operate a smaller device.
As soon as the lighter cable burns, it indicates that the heavy cable has a high resistance, which is indicative of a problem. It is essential to maintain clean and tight battery cable ends. It is possible to replace battery cables with ones that are slightly larger, but never with ones that are smaller.
06. Ignition switch of a car
By using the ignition switch, the driver is able to transfer the electrical power to the appropriate locations in the vehicle when needed.
Switches are usually used in the following five positions:-
- Lock Position key: All circuits must be open and there must not be electricity present and the steering wheel must be in the locked position to use this key. The key may be difficult to turn if the steering wheel is pressuring the locking mechanism and applying pressure to it. It may be necessary to turn the ignition key several times to release the pressure in the steering wheel if you experience this type of condition.
- Start Key: Switches like this supply power to ignition circuits and starter motors. Because of this, when the radio is in the start position, the music stops playing. A spring is incorporated into this part of the ignition switch so that when the engine is running, the starter does not engage until the engine has been started. To activate the starter, you will need to use this switch for a short period of time.
- Off position key: This key can be used when all circuits are open, but the steering wheel can be turned and the key cannot be extracted.
- Accessories: With this switch pressed, all circuits except the ignition and starter are powered. Using this switch, you should be able to listen to the radio, operate the power windows, etc. while the engine is turned off.
- Run position key: The current is supplied to all the circuits besides the starter circuit when all but the starter circuit are closed, which means that none are powered up.
How Does the Car Starting System Work?
let us try to understand how the starting system of a car works. It is essential that a car engine is turned at a certain speed so that it can take in fuel and air, which is then compressed into the cylinder so that the engine can be started. In order to turn the engine, a powerful electric starter motor is used. During the operation of the engine flywheel, there is a pinion attached to the shaft of the engine which engages a large gear ring around the rim of the flywheel.
- Normally, the starter is located near the back of the engine in front-engine layouts with the engine mounted low down.
- A starter requires a heavy amount of electric current, which it draws from the battery via thick wires. It requires a large switch to handle the high current because a hand-operated switch would not be able to switch it on.
- Immediately turning on and off the switch is necessary to prevent sparking that could be dangerous or damaging. To complete the circuit, the solenoid makes use of an electromagnet that is turned on by a small switch.
- When the ignition key is turned on, the starter switch is usually activated. For the solenoid to be powered, you have to turn the key beyond the position of the “ignition on” switch.
- If you release the ignition key, the spring on the ignition switch returns to its original position, which ensures that the ignition switch will turn off as soon as the key is released.
- Electromagnets attract iron rods when current is supplied to the solenoid by the switch. With the movement of the rod, two heavy contacts are closed, which completes the circuit between the battery and the starter as soon as the rod has been moved.
- Additionally, the rod has a return spring that stops the starter motor if there is no current being sent to the solenoid.
- For the starter motor to start the engine, the return springs must not turn more than it needs to. Some of this can be attributed to the fact that the starter consumes a large amount of electricity, which can quickly drain the battery life of a car.
- The starter motor may also be badly damaged if the engine starts and the starter motor remains engaged.
- An important feature of the starter motor itself is installed with a device called a Bendix gear, which is employed only while the starter is turning the engine to engage the pinion of the gear ring on the flywheel with the pinion of the starter motor. There are two means through which it can disengage as soon as the engine picks up speed, the inertia system and the pre-engaged system are the methods by which it is able to accomplish this.
- A pinion’s reluctance to turn is the key to an inertia starter’s operation. Unlike a very coarse-thread bolt with a rigid nut, the pinion is threaded onto the motor shaft.
- The nut will shift along the thread of the bolt if you suddenly spin it: its inertia prevents it from turning at once.
- Flywheel gear rings engage with the threaded shaft of inertia starters when the pinion moves along the thread.
- As the thread reaches the end of the thread, it starts rotating along with the shaft, which produces the rotation of the engine, and that is how the engine of the car starts.
- As soon as the engine starts, the shaft of the starter motor spins faster than the pinion of the engine’s starter. During the spinning process, the pinion is screwed down its thread and is no longer engaged by the pinion.
- With the aid of a freewheel clutch, a type of clutch similar to that on a bicycle, the starter motor is kept from overspeeding when the engine is being started. The solenoid’s return spring prevents the pinion from being engaged by the solenoid by retracting the spring.
Testing the Car starting system
Below mentioned a few methods to test your Car Starting System:-
- As soon as the starter motor stops working, the first thing that you should do is to examine the battery, battery terminals, and battery cables to see if they are in good condition. Whenever the ignition key is turned to the START position on the dashboard, the dash lights will turn dim, which is one of the signs that the battery is way weaker to start a car.
- Typically, after the starter control circuit has been tested, the next step will be to test the starter. Depending on the type of car you have, your mechanic may be able to begin by measuring the battery voltage at the terminal that controls the starter solenoid when the key is in the “START” position.
- A problem with the starter control circuit is most likely to occur if there is no voltage in the system. It is possible that the starter motor could be defective if there is a voltage present at the solenoid control terminal of the starter motor when the key is turned to the start position.
- It is also important to check the connection between the starter solenoid control terminal and the starter motor.
Car is Not Starting – 6 Possible Reasons
There are many reasons why you may have trouble starting your car, and not all of them are caused by a defective starter motor. Tests must be conducted on the start system in order to find out what is causing the problem. So here are a few possible indications that your car has a starting issue:-
01. Maybe the car batteries had died
There are a number of reasons why a car won’t start, but the most common one is a dead battery. It would be helpful if you had a battery tester handy so you could find out if your battery is weak.
In the absence of a jumper cable, you can try jump-starting your car with jumper cables if you don’t already have one. Allow the car to run for a couple of minutes after a jump start to allow the alternator time to recharge the battery after it has been started.
02. Corrosion of batteries can also be the reason
The corrosion on your battery can also spell trouble, causing your car to be unable to start, even with a jump start, if the corrosion persists over an extended period. Make sure that the battery posts are clean and completely connected with each other, then turn on the engine again to ensure that the connections are clean and complete. In order to ensure your battery is cleaned properly, it is a good idea to have professional guidance by your side.
03. Some issues with the starter motor
There could be a problem with the electrical system if you hear a single click every time you turn the key, but the engine will not start after you turn it on. The starter motor plays an important role in the ignition of the engine. It is responsible for turning the engine over and causing it to fire. If this is the case then the simple option ad most reliable option is to replace the starter motor.
04. Blockage of filters in fuel tanks
Fuel filters help prevent the buildup of debris inside your car’s fuel system by keeping it from getting into it. In the event of a clogged filter, too little fuel can be delivered to the engine as a result of the blockage. In most cases, if this is the problem, a replacement will be required. As a precautionary measure, you should try to change the fuel filter at least once every two years as a preventative measure in the future.
05. Leakage in the Fuel tank
If you have an owner’s manual for your vehicle, you will be able to tell whether or not it is a simple matter of a relay or a fuse. Also, a damaged or failed pump could be the cause of the problem. Don’t try to fix this on your own rather let the professional handle the issue.
06. Some issues with the ignition coil
It is possible for your battery to be working, but the ignition may malfunction if your dome light comes on but the engine does not start. A battery’s voltage is converted into an electric spark by an ignition coil as a result of the battery’s voltage. The issue with ignition coils means that the coil has a deficiency of fluid in it. A multimeter is going to be needed in order to test how strong the current is flowing through the coil when you are testing it.
Signs that something is wrong with your Car Starting System
Here are some indications that your car has some probable issues with its starter motor:-
01. Cracking sound while starting the car
It is possible that the starter motor of your vehicle has an internal problem if you notice your engine cranking slowly. The issue can also be caused by a weak battery or a problem with the internal engine of your car. This is why you should see a good mechanic for the purpose of determining and fixing the problem.
02. The engine won’t respond
There are several reasons why an engine may malfunction but the engine not responding is one of the common signs, other signs such as a faulty battery, faulty ignition switch, or a mechanical problem. Thus, it is important to seek the advice of a professional in the field for the diagnosis of the problem.
03. Grinding noise from the car
When the teeth on the starter pinion are damaged, you will notice that the engine starts whirring and grinding when you start it. There is a possibility that the starter will fail to retract properly once the engine starts running if it fails to retract rapidly. There is also a possibility that this problem can be affecting the teeth of the flywheel.
04. Whirring Noise while starting the car
During the process of cranking the engine, the starter pinion gear freewheels which causes a whirring sound to be heard. Basically, the reason for the problem is that the flywheel is not engaging with the pinion gear properly, thus preventing the engine from starting.
