What is a Starter Motor and how does it work?

The Starter Motor's Role

The starter motor is an electrical motor which is required to start your engine. Powered by the vehicle’s battery, the starter motor is a rotating component, which, once engaged, provides the initial drive required to start the engine.

Starter motors are found on internal combustion engines. They have a distinctive shape and connect directly to the flywheel of the engine.

How does a Starter Motor work?

The diagram on the right illustrates the workings of the starter motor circuit.

When you turn the key operated switch (the ignition) on your vehicle, electrical current from the car battery is applied to the solenoid within the starter motor.

This action causes the starter motor to rotate, thus providing drive to the engines flywheel. The flywheel then releases its stored energy to the crankshaft, which kick starts an internal combustion engine.