--- title: "What Does A Bad Starter Sound Like?" description: "Looking for how to fix a bad starter? Check out the Drive’s expert guide to help you fix a bad starter safely and easily." date: "2020-08-31" modified: "2020-09-30" authors: - name: "Jonathon Klein" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jonathon-klein" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/maintenance-repair/35841/what-does-a-bad-starter-sound-like" categories: - "Maintenance & Repair" - "The Garage" tags: - "commerce" - "NoAds" --- # What Does A Bad Starter Sound Like? ![]() *\www.thedrive.com* There are about a thousand and one sounds a car can make when it’s deteriorating toward failure. You’ve got clunks from broken suspension parts, the hiss of a spent radiator, and *brop, brop, brop* of a flat tire. There are so many that it’s sometimes difficult to discern what’s what. That’s especially true of a bad starter. A car’s starter is a small electrical device that consists of the motor and a solenoid. When you crank the ignition, the solenoid uses the car’s battery energy and sends it to the electric motor. The motor then pushes a starter gear into the vehicle’s flywheel, and poof! ignition. But when the starter goes bad, you’re stuck. Diagnosing a bad starter is fairly straightforward, and the sound, when told what to listen for, is easily detected. So, stay with *The Drive’s* crack informational team as we walk you through the sights and sounds of a bad starter. \*taps the mic\* Hello, online people! ![Starter generator and air conditioning compressor]() *Starter generator and air conditioning compressor, *DepositPhotos** ## What Sound Does a Bad Starter Make? A bad starter’s tell-tale noise is loud clicking. It can either have a fast tempo, *click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click* or a slower lilt of click, click, click, click. No other part makes these noises when they fail, so if you hear either, you’re likely going to be on the hook for a brand-new starter. ## How Do You Know If It’s the Battery or the Starter? The battery and starter are inextricably linked. Yet, they fail in very different ways. To better diagnose issues with your battery or starter, *The Drive has* put together a list of the most common symptoms of a bad starter. ### Clicking The easiest way to diagnose a bad starter is if it starts clicking when you turn the ignition or press the starter button. A bad starter may also continue clicking after the engine turns on, too. It should not attempt to start the engine after it’s already been started. ### Accessory Failure A second symptom is when the ignition’s Accessory detent doesn’t power your radio, HVAC, and other interior electrics. Or if everything is dim and intermittent. ### Smoking You may also see smoke coming from underneath your car’s hood. Mechanical parts can experience heat-soak, if they’re repeatedly used and don’t engage properly, and cause enough friction that it starts smoking and could catch fire. ### Metal Grinding Noise Before the starter starts smoking, however, you could hear metal-on-metal grinding coming from underneath the hood as you try to start the ignition. ![Car Starter Package]() *Car Starter Package, *DepositPhotos** ## Here’s How To Replace Your Starter What then, do you do if your starter exhibits any of these symptoms? Well, unfortunately, you’re going to have to replace it. Never fear! *The Drive’s* team is here to walk you through just how to replace your bad starter! ### Replacing Your Starter Basics **Estimated Time Needed:** 1-2 hours **Skill Level:** Beginner **Vehicle System:** Starter ### Safety Working on your car can be dangerous and messy, so here’s exactly what you’ll need to ensure you don’t die, get maimed, or lose a finger. - Non-conductive [mechanic gloves]() - [Safety glasses]() ![Spare parts for the starter to the car]() *Spare parts for the starter to the car, *DepositPhotos** ### Everything You’ll Need To Replace Your Starter We’re not psychic, nor are we snooping through your toolbox or garage, so here’s exactly what you’ll need to get the job done. #### Tool List - Socket set - Screwdriver set - Pliers - [Car jack]() - [Jack stands]() - Wheel chocks #### Parts List - [New starter]() Organizing your tools and gear to change your starter so everything is easily reachable will save precious minutes waiting for your handy-dandy child or four-legged helper to bring you the sandpaper or blowtorch. (*You still won't need a blowtorch for this job. Please don’t have your kid hand you a blowtorch—Ed.*) You’ll also need a flat workspace, such as a garage floor, driveway, or street parking. Check your local laws to make sure you’re not violating any codes when using the street because we aren’t getting your ride out of the clink. ### How to Replace Your Starter Let’s do this! 1. Lift the car if necessary. You can read *The Drive’s* [How To Lift a Car here](). 2. Pop the hood and disconnect the battery terminals. 3. Locate the engine’s starter motor using your dusty manual or a quick Google search. 4. Remove any parts necessary to access the starter motor. 5. Disconnect any connections running to the starter motor. 6. Remove the starter. 7. Replace the old starter with the new unit. 8. Reconnect any connections to the new starter you removed from the old starter. 9. Replace any parts you had to remove to access the starter. 10. Lower the vehicle. 11. Reconnect the battery terminals. 12. Crank the engine. 13. It may not fire right away, so give it a few tries. You’re done! ![Trying to start a car]() *Trying to start a car, *Depositphotos** ## Get Help With Your Bad Starter From a Mechanic On JustAnswer *The Drive* recognizes that while our How-To guides are detailed and easily followed, a rusty bolt, an engine component not in the correct position, or oil leaking everywhere can derail a project. That’s why we’ve partnered with JustAnswer, which connects you to certified mechanics around the globe, to get you through even the toughest jobs. So if you have a question or are stuck, [click here]() and talk to a mechanic near you. ## Pro Tips For Replacing a Car Starter Over the years, *The Drive’s* editors have scraped and damaged our knuckles removing and changing starters a number of times. Here are our pro tips for replacing a starter. - If you’re just checking your starter, inspect the teeth on the flywheel and inspect its general health while you have access. ## FAQs About Car Starters You’ve got questions, *The Drive’s* informational team has answers! ## Featured Products [Swpeet 2-Piece Large Adjustable Oil Filter Pliers]() [Torin Big Red Steel Jack Stands: 6 Ton Capacity]() [Neiko Cordless LED Work Light]() *Got a question? Got a pro tip? Send us a note: guidesandgear@thedrive.com* ## Author Jonathon is the former Managing Editor for Commerce at The Drive and has been writing about cars and motorcycles for over a decade, but he's been known to scribble pretty things about adoption, tattoos, life, gear, adventures, food, technology, nature, and more. ### Author social links [Instagram]()