Despite their simple design, starters fail often. MSG Equipment explains the three main causes, typical faults and why a test bench matters.
Starter design has barely changed for decades, yet MSG Equipment notes that workshops repairing them are very busy. The article names three main causes of failure: reduced safety margins driven by cost pressure (such as plastic gears or smaller bearings), operating conditions like frequent city starts in cold weather, and operating and maintenance errors.
Typical problems include:
- worn bearings and brushes, an oily commutator,
- short circuits between brush holder and housing, weak brush springs,
- winding shorts or breaks, and a slipping or jamming overrunning clutch (bendix).
Before repair, the article recommends checking the starter on a dedicated test bench to reveal both mechanical and electrical faults.