2008 Chevrolet Impala - Starter

What Is A Starter For Cars?

The starter on your car is an electric motor with a gear that engages the flywheel or flexplate to turn your engine over and build compression to start the vehicle. Starters include a geared shaft, often called a Bendix, which extends during startup to engage the starter gear with the flexplate or flywheel, and retracts once the engine has started. Many starter motors also have a built-in solenoid that sends voltage to the starter when the key is turned, but some older vehicles may instead have a remote-mounted starter solenoid that can be replaced separately. The starter or starter solenoid on your vehicle may wear out over time due to heat, oil contamination from a leak, or just regular damage experienced over a lifetime of use. If you hear clicking but your engine won't turn over, it could point to a weak starter motor, or your battery may be dead. If you can hear the starter spinning but it fails to turn over the engine, the Bendix shaft may not be engaging or extending far enough to contact the flexplate. In either case, the starter may need to be replaced to restore your starting performance. O'Reilly Auto Parts offers free starter testing on or off the vehicle, and performing this test can help you narrow down the issue to determine if your starter is the source of the problem. If you need a car battery, starter motor, solenoid, alternator, or other starting and charging system parts, O'Reilly Auto Parts carries the right parts to help you make a lasting repair and keep you on the road.