Starter Motor — Checking in a Car (Opel Ascona C)

1. If the starter motor does not turn the engine when the ignition is turned on, there are five possible reasons for this:

• a) The battery is faulty;
• b) The electrical connections between the switch, solenoid, battery and starter motor at any point do not transfer the required current from the battery through the starter to ground;
• c) The solenoid switch is faulty;
• d) The starter motor has a mechanical or electrical fault;
• d) The starter motor pinion and/or the transfer ring are badly worn and need to be replaced

2. To check the battery, turn on the headlights. If their light fades after a few seconds, the battery is in a discharged state. If the headlights are bright, try turning on the ignition and see how the headlights behave. If they dim, it means power is reaching the starter motor but is not turning it. If the starter turns slowly, proceed to the next test.

3. If the headlights remain bright when the ignition is turned on, this means that insufficient current is supplied to the motor. Disconnect the battery cables, solenoid/starter power cables, and engine ground cable, clean them thoroughly, and then reconnect them. Lubricate the battery contacts with Vaseline to prevent corrosion. Corroded contacts are the most common cause of electrical system failures.

4. After you have performed all the above checks, cleaned, but did not achieve positive results, you most likely hear clicking sounds every time you turn on the ignition. This is noise from the solenoid switch operating, but its presence does not mean that the main contacts were closing properly (if you don't hear any clicking sounds from the solenoid, it is definitely faulty). The solenoid contact can be checked by connecting a voltmeter or light bulb between the main wire connection on the starter side of the solenoid and ground. When the ignition is turned on, the voltmeter should show certain readings, or the light should come on. If the voltmeter shows nothing, or the light does not come on, then the solenoid is faulty and should be replaced.



5. If the starter motor runs but does not turn the engine, it is likely that the starter pinion and/or pinion ring are badly worn, and in this case the starter motor will make an unusual noise when running.

6. Finally, if it is determined that the solenoid is working properly and 12 volts are supplied to the starter, then the motor is faulty and should be removed for inspection.