Before the advent of the starter motor, engines were started by various methods including wind-up springs, gunpowder cylinders, and human-powered techniques such as a removable crank handle which engaged the front of the crankshaft, pulling on an airplane propeller, or pulling a cord that was wound around an open-face pulley.

The hand-crank method was commonly used to start engines, but it was inconvenient, difficult, and dangerous. The behavior of an engine during starting is not always predictable. The engine can kick back, causing sudden reverse rotation. Many manual starters included a one-directional slip or release provision so that once engine rotation began, the starter would disengage from the engine. In the event of a kickback, the reverse rotation of the engine could suddenly engage the starter, causing the crank to unexpectedly and violently jerk, possibly injuring the operator. Therefore, eletric starters are invented.

The starter motor is an electric motor that turns over or “cranks” the engine to start. It consists of a powerful motor and the starter solenoid that is attached to the motor.When you turn the ignition key to the START position, or press the START button, if the transmission is in Park or Neutral, the battery voltage goes through the starter control circuit and activates the starter solenoid. The starter solenoid powers the starter motor. At the same time, the starter solenoid pushes the starter gear forward to mesh it with the engine flywheel. The flywheel is attached to the engine crankshaft. The starter motor spins, turning over the engine crankshaft allowing the engine to start. In cars with a push button start, the system disengages the starter as soon as the engine starts running. At Advanced Mobile Mechanics, we do starter motors day in day out for all makes and models, if your car or you think that your car needs a new starter motor, our expert mobile mechanics will go to anywhere in Canberra region to diagnose the problem or even replace the starter motor for you.