If you can’t get your car to start, one of the first things you should do is find out where the starter is located. Without the starter, an essential engine part, your car won’t move. In this article, we’ll talk about where the starter is and give you all the information you need to get your car started and running right.
Content Highlights
- 1 Quick Steps to locate a Car starter
- 2 What is the Starter, and How Does it Work?
- 3 Where is the Starter? Located in a Car-A Detailed Guide
- 4 How to find and replace a starter Video guide
- 5 Check Faulty Starter
- 6 Starter Replacement Cost
- 7 How to replace a car starter?
- 8 Starter Locations of Some of the Most Popular Cars
- 8.1 What is the location of the starter on a 2006 Chevrolet Impala?
- 8.2 Where is the starter located in a 2004 Honda Accord?
- 8.3 Where is the starter located in a 2008 Honda Civic?
- 8.4 Where is the starter located in a 2003 Toyota Corolla?
- 8.5 Where is the starter located in a 2009 Honda Civic?
- 8.6 Where is the starter located in a 2010 dodge journey?
- 8.7 Where is the starter located in a 2007 Honda Civic?
- 8.8 Where is the starter on a Nissan?
- 8.9 Where is the starter located on a Hyundai sonata?
- 9 Conclusion
- 10 Where is the starter typically located in a car?
- 11 How much does it cost to rebuild a car starter?
- 12 Where is the starter under the hood?
Quick Steps to locate a Car starter
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Raise the hood and listen for any grinding sounds coming from beneath the hood. |
| 2 | To find the starter, identify the positive battery connection and then follow the positive battery wire. |
| 3 | In the area of the engine, typically beneath the left mound of cylinders, search for an attached cylindrical object. |
| 4 | Inspect the starter, and look for the hex nuts holding it in position. |
| 5 | Using motor parts as a guide, if necessary, position the starter correctly. |
What is the Starter, and How Does it Work?
Before we dive into where the starter is located, let’s briefly go over what the starter is and how it works. The battery powers a car starter, which turns the engine to start it. The ignition system and a magnetic relay send power from the battery to the engine when the driver moves the key or hits the start button. A Bendix gear aligns its shaft with the gear ring on the flywheel while driving the engine, and a solenoid coil makes a magnetic field to attach the battery power to the starter motor. The actuator switches the starter circuit’s main battery-connected on/off function. Electric, gas, and hydraulic triggers start the engine and switch. The car starter starts the motor.
Where is the Starter? Located in a Car-A Detailed Guide
Now that we know what the starter is and how it works let’s get into details of car starter location. The starter positions for most cars are summarized in the following step-by-step process:
Step1: To activate the power source, lift the bonnet of your vehicle while still using the ignition key. Any grinding noises emanating from under the hood should be heard and noted. The grinding noise suggests that the starter is not working correctly.
Step2: Locate your car’s positive charge connection, typically denoted by a plus (+) symbol. You can find the starter by following the positive battery wire because it is immediately connected to the starter.
Step3: Near the motor, look for an attached circular object. The starter is under the left pile of cylinders on the driver’s side of the car, between the gearbox and the engine.
Step4: Check the starter for two (or more) hex fasteners holding it in place. Look for cables leading to the starter as well. The starter is powered by these cables, which are typically red and black.
Step5: If you’re having trouble finding the starter, you might need to slide it down and around other motor parts to get it in the right place.
How to find and replace a starter Video guide
Video Credit: Youtube/@backyardchevy328
Check Faulty Starter
A bad vehicle starter can be very frustrating and inconvenient. The starter could be one of the causes of your vehicle not beginning. A poor starter may exhibit the following symptoms:
Dashboard warning lights: The dashboard caution indicators turn on when you switch on your vehicle, but the motor doesn’t start or turn over. A poor starter will typically exhibit this behavior.
Engine not turning on: When you turn the key, the motor won’t start. This may indicate a poor starter.
Clicking noise: When you move the key or press the start switch, you hear a buzzing sound. This may indicate a poor starter. However, remember that a starter may pass away silently or make a buzzing or grating commotion to signal its imminent demise.
Grinding noise: When you move the key, you hear a grating sound. This could be a technical issue, potentially with the cogs that link to your starter engine, rather than an electrical issue.
Slow cranking: Despite the starter motor moving, the engine turns slowly or not at all. A defective solenoid or damaged starter tooth may be to blame for this.
Burnt smell or smoke: The engine area may emit a charred odor or smoke. These are the few methods you can employ to ascertain whether or not your starter is defective.
Starter Replacement Cost
Replacing a car starter ranges from $50 to over $500 for a new one and $85 to over $1,100 for labor. The cost varies on the vehicle’s make, model, year, and mechanic’s location. Replacing the starter yourself saves money, but it isn’t straightforward and may be best left to a mechanic.
Starter replacement costs for popular cars
| Car Make/Model | Average Starter Replacement Cost |
|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | $250 - $400 |
| Honda Civic | $305 - $527 |
| Toyota Camry | $350 - $500 |
| Chevy Silverado | $440 - $551 |
| Jeep Wrangler | $500 - $800 |
How to replace a car starter?
| Step | Car Starter Replacement Process |
|---|---|
| 1 | Turn off the ignition and disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery. |
| 2 | Disconnect the positive cable from the starter and remove any supporting brackets holding the starter in place. |
| 3 | Use a ratchet to remove the bolts that keep the starter attached to the block. |
| 4 | Remove the wiring and positive battery cable from the starter solenoid. |
| 5 | Use force to pull and remove the starter from the bell housing in the engine compartment. |
| 6 | Compare the replacement starter to the old one by placing them next to each other on a table. They should look almost identical. |
| 7 | If replacing a starter-mounted solenoid, remove the field coil strap from the solenoid terminal, remove the attaching screws and bolts, and remove the solenoid housing. |
| 8 | If the starter has been removed, slide the new starter into place and insert the retainer bolts through the bracket on the engine and the starter. |
| 9 | Reconnect the wiring and positive battery cable to the starter solenoid. |
| 10 | Reconnect the positive cable to the battery and then the negative cable. |
Starter Locations of Some of the Most Popular Cars
What is the location of the starter on a 2006 Chevrolet Impala?
According to online search findings, the starter on a 2006 Chevrolet Impala is located on the driver’s side of the engine area. Additionally, it is advised that the battery cable be disconnected before changing the starter and that the screw is torqued to 8.5 Nm (75 pounds.) after reconnecting the cable.
Where is the starter located in a 2004 Honda Accord?
Getting to the starter can be trickier than in some other cars because it is secured to the gearbox by two bolts. In a 2004 Honda Accord, the starter is found in the lower right corner of the motor. Follow the battery wire to the engine to locate the starter.
Where is the starter located in a 2008 Honda Civic?
A 2008 Honda Civic starter is situated below the intake manifold, close to the chassis. Some mechanics suggest that reaching the starter underneath the vehicle is the easiest.
Where is the starter located in a 2003 Toyota Corolla?
In a 2003 Toyota Corolla, the starter is located on the engine’s passenger side, close to the front of the car. The starter should be next to the generator, which you can see if you lift the hood and check to the engine’s right. In some versions, the starter is situated in the middle of the engine, directly below the intake manifold.
Where is the starter located in a 2009 Honda Civic?
The starter should be located on the left side of the engine on a 2009 Honda Civic, closer to the front of the car. You can also look for it by tracing the stout red cable on the engine and transmission line’s bell housing side. Heat or impurities can cause the starter to deteriorate over time. It’s crucial to remember that the 2009 Honda Civic also has a starter relay, which is housed in an extended black box in front of the engine.
Where is the starter located in a 2010 dodge journey?
In the front of the engine block, just below the intake manifold, is where you’ll find the starter on a 2010 Dodge Journey. To add to your knowledge, a Dodge Journey starter replacement is expected to cost between $523 and $585. It is crucial to remember that if your 2010 Dodge Journey suddenly begins to beep and won’t start after being stopped, it might have a starter issue.
Where is the starter located in a 2007 Honda Civic?
A 2007 Honda Civic starter can be found right below the intake manifold. Disconnecting the negative charge connection is the first stage in accessing it. The vehicle should be jacked up on both sides and set on lift supports. Right behind the starter, a frame secured with two 10mm and one 12mm screw needs to be removed.
It is essential to point out that the 2007 Honda Civic has a starter solenoid situated by the passenger-side axle. However, it is advised to examine the starter solenoid first, found in the primary fuse box at the front of the engine area, before trying to reach the solenoid.
It is also important to note that some 2007 Honda Civic owners have complained about problems with occasionally not activating, which must be fixed by replacing the starter.
Where is the starter on a Nissan?
Nissan starts can be found in numerous locations based on the car type. Various Nissan versions’ starter locations can be seen in the following instances:
Nissan D21 Hardbody: The starter is situated near the foot of the motor on the passenger side.
Nissan Frontier, Xterra, and Pathfinder: The starter can be reached from the car’s floor, close to the gearbox.
2008 Nissan Rogue: The starter is a little to the car’s left, beneath the motor base. By rotating the steering column to the left and peering through the front axle on the passenger side, you can get to it.
Nissan Altima: The transmission’s upper front is where the starter is situated. Remove the air filter and the intake conduit to the throttle body to reach the starter.
Nissan Sentra: The starter’s precise position may vary depending on the vehicle’s type. It is linked to the battery outlet by two thick wires.
Nissan NV200: Depending on whether the engine is equipped with start and stop, the starter position may change. The starter may be placed near the rotor if it has started and prevent capabilities.
Where is the starter located on a Hyundai sonata?
Depending on the year and type of the car, the Hyundai Sonata’s starter position may change. The starter is usually found on the driver’s side of the engine, above the oil filter and below the A/C fan, according to several sites, including and. Getting underneath the vehicle, where the engine block and gearbox meet, may be necessary to reach it. A 14mm wrench might be needed to extract the starter bolts.
It is essential to remember that if a Hyundai Sonata doesn’t start, the problem might not always be with the starter. Other possible reasons include the battery, battery connections, essential fob battery, generator, gasoline filter, switch, spark plug, or engine. Additional testing may be required to pinpoint the issue’s underlying cause.
It’s essential to remember that the price to replace a starter in a Hyundai Sonata can change based on the region and the particular type of car. The expected cost of replacing the starter on a Hyundai Sonata is between $400 and $539, with work expenses projected to be between $86 and $109 and components listed between $314 and $430.
Conclusion
Your vehicle will start and operate efficiently if you take care of your starter. You can fix starting issues by knowing where the starter is located in your car. A skilled technician must inspect your starter if you hear any grinding or clicking sounds or if your engine won’t start. Budget for the expense of starter replacement if necessary because it is usually a task for a qualified technician.
FAQ related to Car Starter location
Where is the starter typically located in a car?
The starter’s position can differ based on the make and type of the vehicle, but it is typically situated close to the engine’s gearbox. It is usually located beneath the left pile of cylinders on the driver’s side of a front-wheel drive vehicle or the passenger’s side of a rear-wheel drive vehicle, between the gearbox and the engine.
How much does it cost to rebuild a car starter?
Rebuild components for a starter can cost anywhere between $50 and $350. A fresh starter can cost anywhere between $80 and $350. Expect to spend between $150 and over $1,100 for a skilled technician to repair or refurbish a starter.
Where is the starter under the hood?
The starter is generally found under the bonnet, commonly on the driver’s side, at the foot of the engine close to the gearbox, though the precise position may differ based on the make and model of the car. Before presuming that the starter is the issue, checking the battery and connections is wise. In some circumstances, activating the engine under the bonnet might be essential using a remote vehicle starter button.