Updated: Where Is the Starter Located? (How to Locate the Starter in Any Car) 

In this article we are going to look into where the starter is located, how to locate the solenoid and how to change your starter. So, without wasting much of your time let us go into the details proper.

Where Is the Starter Located?

If you are stuck in a situation where your car won’t start despite several attempts to do so. Your car starter is found on the driver’s side. It is located between the transmission and the car’s engine. Check the mounted cylinders, at the mounted plates by the left corner of the cylinders you will see them there firmly held by some fixed bolts. Two wires are connected to it.

As we all know, that your car engine starting and running efficiently is the duty of the starter. So, your car will have a hard start if the starter becomes faulty or damaged. The car battery is what powers the starter.

The starter is a durable and vital component of your car. So, it does not change often, like other components of the car. It is better to replace your starter than to repair it if it develops a fault or becomes damaged. It is not advisable to continue fixing your starter temporarily.

How To Locate The Starter On A Car

Step 1

When checking for your car starter, it is good that you do it with someone. One of you is to open the car’s bonnet while the other person turns on the ignition. Now you two should listen carefully to know where a ticking or clicking sound is coming from. Check the engine area for a mounted cylinder part.

At this point, look closely to see two hex bolts that hold the starter. Some cars have more than two bolts. The starter is what these hex bolts hold.

Step 2

Now you have to find the positive terminal of your battery. The positive terminal has a red color at the end. The positive terminal is to have a plastic cover if your car is a new model.

Step 3

The starter is where the terminal wire connects. So, you have to trace it to see where it connects.

To send current to different parts of your car, the starter has many wires. You can find it at the edge of the cylinder. Finding the starter by its cable is always difficult. This is because the cables are wired beneath components that makes it hard to trace.

Check for two cylindrical structures at the edge of the cylinder. They are not of the same size, that is the starter. These cylindrical structures are referred to as the starter and the solenoid.

How To Locate The Starter Solenoid

It is the solenoid that directs current into the starter. This is how it happens, when your car engine is turned ON, the solenoid will send current into the starter and the starter cranks to start your car.

So, you have to follow the above stated steps to locate the starter in order to see the solenoid. Because they are found together. You can also follow the steps we are about to list to find the solenoid quickly.

Your solenoid can get affected if your car’s ignition system develops a fault. And you have to remove the starter if you are to replace your damaged solenoid.

Step 1

Take your car to a level ground or garage. Put wedges at the car tires to stop them from rolling off.

Step 2

To see your engine compartments, you will have to raise your car bonnet. Remove the positive terminal from your battery. To do this, you can use a socket wrench to release the cable from the terminal.

Step 3

Now it is time to lift the front of your car. Get a jack and position it beneath the front cross member. Lift your car front high enough so that the car’s frame rails can accommodate two jack stands.

Step 4

Trace the positive terminal cable of your battery now to reach its port. The positive terminal is what leads your way to the solenoid. The solenoid can be above the starter rear depending on your car model.

Since the starter is found together with the solenoid, it is a necessity that you locate it. As we said earlier, the starter is located on the driver’s side. I9t is under the cylinders mounted between the transmission and the car’s engine.

Attached to the plate mounted there is the starter, you just have to look through to see the solenoid beside it.

How To Locate The Starter on Various Vehicle Models?

Let us take a look at how you can locate your starter, despite the car model.

Where is the Starter Located in a Ford Taurus?

The starter is usually about 5-7 inches in length and a diameter of about 3 inches. It has a cylindrical shape and a hard-covered motor. It also has some wires at one end that connects to the engine. There are three bolts that are used to hold it in place.

You can trace the cable on your battery positive terminal if you are finding it hard to locate the starter on your Ford. The starter is at the end of the positive terminal cable.

You can find the starter located behind the engine and close to the firewall if you have an older Ford Taurus. Most especially from the first to the third generation.

The starter is located in front of the engine in a fourth generation Ford Taurus. You can check for it in the radiator section.

While in any of the recent vehicles, you can locate the starter when you remove the plastic splash shield covering them.

Where Is The Starter Located On A Honda Civic?

Raise the bonnet of your Honda Civic and look through from its front. On the engine parts, you will see the uncovered battery sets.

At your battery head there are two terminal connections. One is positive and has a red cable while the other is negative with a black cable. Hold the black terminal wire with your hand, now trace it beneath the engine. It stops at the starter motor.

At that point it is likely to get dark and shrouded, so you can get a jack accompanied by a torch light to help you see it.

To make it easier to locate the starter underneath the engine, you will have to raise the front side of your car.

Where Is the Starter Located on a Chrysler Cirrus?

2.4L Cirrus Starter Location

If you own a Cirrus of 2.4-litre engine, you can locate the starter under the TCM. At the front of the engine compartment is a metal box, this box is the TCM. At the driver’s side, there is supposed to be a plastic housing by the left. It bears the emblem “Fuse Access”.

If you want to remove the starter, you will lose the TCM to see the top. Separate the air inlet resonator. When this is done, you will see the starter held by some bolts alongside the transaxle.

2.5L Cirrus Starter Location

The starter is fixed nearer to the oil filter on a cirrus with a 2.5-litre engine. The starter is held with three bolts at the transaxle. It can only be seen from under.

First remove the oil filter, then unbolt the exhaust pipe and manifold before you can remove the starter.

What Is a Starter?

A starter is one of the most important components of a car that is powered by the battery. A starter cranks and starts the car’s engine and propels the car. The starter relay is located between the battery and the starter motor supplying current to other sectors of the car.

So, if any of the ones between the starter relay or battery become faulty, your car won’t be able to start.

What Are Common Bad Starter Symptoms?

1. A Clicking Sound

Clicking sounds when you turn the ignition ON is the first symptom to observe about a bad starter. If your car has a start push button, this can also happen.

In some cases, the starter might get damaged completely without showing any signs. Other times, it starts to make grinding or rolling sounds before it is damaged.

2. Your Lights Are On, But The Car Won’t Start.

If you notice that the lights on your dashboard are ON but your engine doesn’t turn ON when you turn your car ON. This is another symptom of a faulty starter.

3. Your Engine Won’t Crank.

If after pushing your car it still doesn’t start, it means that your starter has become faulty. You should seek a technician’s help to jumpstart your car or repair it. It might require replacing your starter.

4. Smoke Is Coming from Your Car.

Because the starter works electrically, it is not something very unusual if it develops a fault in one of its circuits and consequently blows. Overheating is one factor that might cause your starter to blow. This is caused when you unsuccessfully try to start your car continuously. Electrical faults will result from this sending smoke into your vehicle.

Gently turn your car off and seek a technician’s help when your sense smoke inside your car.

5. Oil Has Soaked the Starter.

The starter of RWD can be found under the exhaust manifold. It is fixed on the passenger side. While on an FWD, the starter is on the driver’s side. It can be located above the transmission or beneath the exhaust manifold.

In some other car models, the starter can be found fixed at the intake manifold. A faulty starter will always cause oil to spill around the area. So, you’re likely to see a drenched starter.

As a car owner or driver, you should not think less of this oil spillage because it can cause severe problems if it expands.

What Causes Starter Problems?

• When your starter connections are loose.
• When the cables of your starter get damaged.
• When your battery develops a fault.
• When your starter gets old.
• Oil spills.
• A faulty car relay.

How to Fix Car Starter?

If you have tried what you can to get your car started but nothing seems to be working, here are some tricks to get your starter working.

Let’s see the options available below.

1. Look Under the Hood.

Check if the cables connecting to your car battery are still intact. The cables could be the problem if they are loose.

2. Tap the Starter.

Gently tapping the starter is another possible way to resolve the starter problem. Tap the starter by the side gently with a metal object. The fan-like brush inside the starter will reset and get activated when you tap the starter gently.

The electrical current transmission of the starter will be reactivated by this process but this is only a temporary fix.

3. Adjust the Transmission.

If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic parking setting, try starting it neutrally if it fails to start. If this works, it indicates that your starter is not the problem but rather a technical fault. A faulty neutral switch could be the problem.

4. Check the Fuel Gauge.

If your gas tank is empty, your car will not start. In this situation what you have to do is to check your fuel gauge and know if it is to be refilled.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Starter?

Rebuilt parts of your starter could possibly cost you between %50 – %350. A new starter will cost you between the range of $80 to %350 and a technician can charge you between $150 to $1,100 to change it for you.

Service Stability System (Meaning, Causes & Solution)

Frequently Asked Questions About Where the Stater Is Located

Where Is My Car Starter Located?

The starter is located on the driver’s side. It is found between the transmission and the car engine. Observe properly beneath the left mound cylinders to sight it. Bolts on the mounting plates hold it. Also, you will see two wires that are connected to it.

Can I Replace My Starter Myself?

If you have the required tools available, you can fix your starter by yourself.

Can You Jumpstart a Car with a Bad Starter?

Jumpstarting a damaged starter is more like trying wake a dead person with a push. What you have to do if you have a faulty starter is to stimulate your battery power. If your car is a manual transmission, you can push it to start if your starter fails. But you do not have to push it if it is automatic transmission.

Is It My Starter or My Battery?

The starter is triggered by the battery, while the starter powers the engine. The engine powers your vehicle and causes it to move. If your car makes a clicking sound when you try to start it, it means that your starter has developed a fault.

Why Is My Car Not Starting but the Battery Isn’t Dead?

Without the help of a technician, it is going to be hard to discern why your car is not starting as it might be caused by a bunch of faults. Your car won’t start if your car battery has loose connection cables, if it is drained or dead. Also, a faulty starter or alternator can cause it not to start.

How Long Can You Go with a Bad Starter?

Some starters are built to last as long as your car does while others can become damaged or faulty easily. It depends on your car model.

Generally, car starters are expected to last for about 100,000 to 150,000 miles.

What Sound Does a Bad Starter Make?

Just as stated earlier, your starter can make different sounds when it becomes faulty. It can make sounds like a clicking metal, crank, glitching, fast tempo, and more. It is important that you know that it is only the starter that can make this sound in your car.

What Does A Battery Saver Active Mean?

If any of these sounds comes from your starter, it is necessary that you visit a mechanic know what is wrong with it and possibly fix it. You can replace it with a new one if it is dead.

How Long Does It Take to Replace a Car Starter?

Fixing a bad starter can take a long time. Although some mechanics are specialized in doing it, they might fix it quicker than others.

It can take approximately 4 or more hours to replace it. These work hours are the major reason why replacing a starter cost as much as $150 to $1,100.

Can the Car Starter Be Repaired?

You can fix a faulty solenoid, armature, commutator as well as a bad starter in an auto repair shop. Just make out some time to visit a nearby auto repair shop to see those who can repair your bad starter.