The most horrible thing that happened to me on a day of a very important presentation is still flashing in my memories. I was running late! So, without even having my breakfast I jumped in my garden tractor and start hoping for hitting all the green lights.
As soon as I put the key in the ignition to turn it on, nothing happened. I tried once again finding the exact same result. That morning started with a bad mood that was enough to ruin the day.
This would have not happened if I was a little bit concerned about maintenance. That was the exact thought that came after. And it was obvious because my garden tractor’s starter system had some trouble due to poor handling.
That was the moment I started to polish my maintenance and upkeep habits. And today I’m here to share a very valuable part of that experience. And that’s about how do you know if you have a bad starter?
How Do You Know If You Have a Bad Starter: Symptoms That Shouts Before Collapse?
In most cases, a tractor not starting might indicate a bad or dead battery. However, there are instances when actually the vehicle’s starter system is having trouble. And so, the question of how to check if starter is bad arises from here. It could happen for several reasons. Such as:
- Dirty connections within.
- Wires getting loose to or from a starter.
- Worn out battery system.
- Disturbing parts in the starter system.
- Fuel leakage troubles.
Let’s talk about some of the most common signals or symptoms related to a bad starter in a vehicle.
Sounds Off?
The first thing you should know is what does a bad starter sound like. Because more than often, this is a very common way to figure out a damaged starter system.
Usually, the sounds seem a bit off with clicking noise. You should turn the key or push start button. And the sound of clicking something will come out. However, this is not the only sound that a bad starter makes. Some of them make grinding and whirring noises.
In short, there are plenty of answers to what sound does a bad starter make. And so, if it seems unusual, know already that there’s some problem within the system, especially starter.
Lights on, Action Zero.
Another good way on how to test a tractor starter, is by checking the dashboard lights. Sometimes when you try to start the engine, lights turn on.
But still, there is no action with the engine. This can denote the fact that your starter is having trouble and needs attention. This is the second most common indicator of a bad starter.
No Crank on Engine.
If the trouble comes up with engine not reviving up even with a jumpstart, this is serious. It’s at a point where you need to call somebody for assistance.
This might relate to some serious starter issue and you will not be able to handle it alone. So better get a professional technician deal with this if the engine won’t crank.
Smoke Starts to Come Out.
Your tractor’s starter is a part of the electrical system. And so, there are many fuses and circuits related to keep it going. If you are trying desperately to start the engine, overheating might happen.
And the overheating issue can bring a bigger electrical disaster accompanying smoke. If there’s a smell of smoke or you can see it coming out, stop right there. Don’t try to turn the key harder anymore if you want to save your life. Go to a distance and call someone for help.
The Starter is Excessively Oiled.
The starter usually stays at motor, which is located by driver’s side. This is usually just underneath the cylinder’s left bank. You can simply pop the hood up and see it. If the starter seems to be drenched with fuel or oil, you know exactly the problem of why your tractor is not starting up.
Sometimes due to oil or fuel leakage, such drenching problems show up. It usually starts with a few drops of oil coming out. But gradually when there’s no checkup, you will one sad day discover that the starter is messed up.
And mind me when I say that this is a very expensive disaster you need to pay for. So, make sure you do frequent checking for oil leakage. Since the after-disaster results upset your wallet a lot.
Neutral Safety Switch.
In some cases, the neutral safety switch does not allow vehicle to start when park transmission happens. And so, a simple step could be to transmit the vehicle into neutral mode and see if it starts this time. There are quite a few cases, where this could happen.
Dead Battery Related.
Sometimes the problems are beyond just a dead battery. There are multiple cases where a vehicle fails to start because there is a poor connection at the terminal of battery. And so, there are frequent clicks coming when trying to turn the ignition on.
Corrosion is also a problem that happens with battery terminals. This can start the weakly feeding starter.
And so, it’s very important that you check for such corrosion in battery terminals periodically. Whenever there’s a trace of such corrosion, don’t make it late to clean up with wire brush.
You should also look for areas where the battery and engine connect with wire and ground. These are also prone to corrosion problems. And so, there could be a weak connection with the battery. The resulting clicking sound can be due to this issue.
And finally, battery itself can be completely worn out, which becomes the actual culprit for engine cranks happening slow. You should always be aware beforehand if actually battery is the main thief in such problems. Because in such a case, you don’t need to do anything with the starter.
Bad Ignition Switch.
If you see that the instrumental panel light is not turning on, this could be also due to a bad ignition switch apart from a dead battery. You should try wiggling the key while switching. If tractor starts, then the issue is actually your tractor’s ignition switch.
Simple Troubleshooting.
Before you call for someone to fix the problem, try these few things and see. You might save some dollars by repairing the problems yourself with simple troubleshooting.
Try to jumpstart the vehicle. This works when the battery is not a problem causing stoppage.
Bring your tractor to the neutral mode. Now try to start it.
Use a hammer or hard object to hit the starter. Sometimes it works, however, this could be risky for too old vehicles.
While putting the tractor in manual transmission into neutral and turning the key on, let someone push or pull it. A better way is to let it roll down a hill if possible. This could give momentum. Then simply while moving, pop the clutch. Now try first gear transmission or reverse. This depends on what direction you are driving to.
Make the connection with battery secure. Check whether the cables are loose and causing a problem for tractor not starting.
Conclusion
It’s almost time for me to wrap up for today. I hope the ideas on how do you know if you have a bad starter was helpful. There are many more reasons that are possible for your misery.
But these were the most common symptoms. If you find yourself in a situation where the trouble is absolutely not understood, don’t waste your time and go to someone professional. A skilled technical or auto mechanic can help you here in the best possible way.