How to Fix a Starter With a Hammer
Have you ever tried to fix a starter with a hammer? It’s not as easy as it looks. It’s almost impossible. You can’t just whack it until it works again. Instead, you need to take it apart and figure out what’s wrong with it first. Then, you can start fixing it. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your time.
If your starter doesn’t turn over, you may be tempted to reach for the hammer. Before you do, though, consider whether a simple adjustment can get your engine going again. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to fix a starter with a hammer and how to avoid doing more harm than good. So keep reading this blog post if you want to know how!
How to Detect a Bad Starter?
Symptoms like grinding or clicking can identify bad starters. This is caused by the starter disengaging the flywheel (a large, round metal plate that stores rotational energy) from the car’s engine. The sound of a bad starter generally means that it has reached its breaking point.
In some cases, you may also find yourself unable to start your car as it spins. Unfortunately, this is a sign that you will need to replace the starter, but these symptoms do not always mean that the fix would be costly and extensive.
10 Useful Methods on How to Fix a Starter With a Hammer
1. Examine the Solenoid Cable of the Starter
If the starter solenoid wire is severed, you’ll have to examine it closely. Look for any fray or cut close to the insulation. If there are any signs of damage, you may have to replace this cable entirely since frayed cables can cause misfires or other issues, which will only cost more money to repair down the road.
2. Verify the Battery is in Working Order
The battery itself might be dead or low on power. You can test it out with a multimeter or by simply removing it and trying to turn the vehicle over. If the car doesn’t start after you disconnect the battery, replace it regardless of whether there’s anything visibly wrong with it.
3. Examine the Battery Cable Ends
The ends of these cables might be corroded or loose, which can cause starting problems. You might be able to clean up the corrosion on these terminals with a metal brush or sandpaper, but if they’re too corroded, you’ll have to replace them entirely.
4. Inspect for Loose Connections
Inspect all of the wiring and connections from the starter’s solenoid. If the bolts holding these connections in place are loose, it can affect the starter’s power and cause problems. Tighten these bolts back down to the solenoid if they’re loose.
5. Check for Slipping Belts
Belts that spool or control mechanical connections between different components might be slipping under the hood. If these belts become too stiff with age, they’ll break or slip under tension, so check them for any sign of cracks or slipping. If the belts are damaged, you’ll have to replace them entirely.
6. Replace Worn-Out Part
If everything else checks out with no issues in sight but the starter still won’t work after trying these other methods, you’ll probably have to replace the starter motor itself. Also, the starter’s brushes might be worn out, and if they are, you’ll need a replacement.
7. Inspect the Transmission & Starter
You might have an electrical issue that is causing transmission issues simultaneously as starting problems. If both of these are giving you problems, the issue might be a short circuit in the wiring harness or starter motor. You may have to replace some wiring if it’s damaged.
8. Examine the Starter Relay
A bad relay for this could also cause starting issues, so take a look at it carefully to see if there are any signs of damage here. This could be a loose connection or a broken wire in the wiring for this part, so inspect it closely before making any repairs.
9. Inspect the Clutch or Flywheel
If you have transmission issues simultaneously as starting problems, it can be an issue with the starter itself. The starter might not engage because there is no clutch/flywheel to turn over for it to work correctly. If this is the case, you’ll have to replace your clutch or flywheel.
10. Test Run the Starter Motor
When you have a problem with your starter, keep in mind that your battery can lose its charge if it gets too low while the engine is off. Therefore, you’ll need to charge or replace the battery before attempting to test run the starter. Start by engaging the solenoid and then grounding the cable to activate it. This should turn over the engine.
Some Tips and Suggestions
1. Make sure to push down on the bottom part of the hammer, so it doesn’t bend.
2. If you don’t have a hammer, use something that is hard and heavy with a flat end – like a wrench or even another screwdriver but make sure whatever you use is big enough to hit the top of the starter with.
3. When you’re done, make sure to put the car in park and turn it off before putting everything back together!
4. Make sure to check how much room is between the bolt and starter using a ruler before trying this out.
5. It would be best if you use a jack just in case something goes wrong when you’re doing it or even because it’s easier to get under the car instead of lying on your back!
6. Even though you should always check the instructions on your car, this probably won’t work with all cars, so please make sure to research if you’re not sure!
7. If you have a new car, please try to go to a mechanic so they can fix it for you. It would be best if you do this anyway just in case something goes wrong!
How Useful Is the Temporary Fix?
Hammering the starter is not a permanent fix. Even if you’re able to start your car, it’s just temporary until you can get something more exciting than a hammer with which to pry the pinion into place. This is because the nature of an automobile with an internal combustion engine is that certain gears mesh for the crankshaft to turn the pistons which then push the vehicle forward.
The opinion of a starter does not mesh with anything, so hammering it into place only holds until you shut off your engine and start it again, or if you have a manual transmission, change gears. If you happen to be stranded somewhere without tools of any sort, a hammer may get you home, but it could also be a good excuse to call your parents and have them come pick you up.
Conclusion
Starter motors are a common issue with vehicles. There are many possible causes of a starter motor failure, but the most common is a bad connection. The key to fixing a starter with a hammer is knowing how the process works.
If you’ve never done it before, take your car to an auto mechanic or ask for advice from someone who has experienced it so that you don’t do any more damage than necessary. In this article, we have provided steps on how to fix a starter with a hammer.
You can use this article as a guide for repairing your starter next time! If you follow these instructions and your starter motor is still not working, please take your vehicle to an auto mechanic for further assistance.
