Starters

Find quality starter motors for your vehicle.

Starter Warning Signs — Clicks But Won't Crank?

Turn the key and get a click, a grind, or nothing at all? That's often the starter — the motor that cranks your engine to life. The good news: the sounds it makes tell you a lot before you spend a dollar.

What does a starter do?

The starter is a small electric motor that spins the engine when you turn the key or push the start button. When it wears out, the engine doesn't crank — even with a perfect battery.

Signs your starter may be failing:

• Single click when you turn the key, and the engine doesn't crank
• Grinding noise during starting (the starter gear isn't engaging right)
• Starter spins but the engine doesn't turn over (a whirring sound)
• Intermittent starting — works one try, dead the next
• Nothing at all when you turn the key, but the dash lights are bright
• Smoke or a burning smell from under the hood while trying to start

Starter or battery? A few quick clues:

• Rapid clicking usually means a weak battery — the starter is trying, but there isn't enough power.
• One solid click with a good, charged battery usually points to the starter or its solenoid.
• Bright headlights and dash lights but no crank also point to the starter — power is there, it just isn't being used.

Not sure? Call us before you buy — a wrong guess costs more than a phone call.

We stock remanufactured OEM starters, rebuilt and tested at our Chicago shop, for most domestic and import vehicles — and if we don't stock yours, our Rebuild & Return service can rebuild your own unit.