Chapter 2
Starting System
Contents
Starting system principles
Starting motor construction
Starting System Principles
The starting system uses battery power
and an electric motor to turn the engine
crankshaft for engine starting
Basic Starting System
The ignition switch energizes the
solenoid
The solenoid energizes the starting
motor
Components
Battery
source of energy
Ignition switch
allows driver to control operation
Solenoid
high current relay (switch)
Starting motor
high torque electric motor
Starting System Energized
With the ignition key in the “start”
position, current flows through the
solenoid coil
Magnetism closes the solenoid contacts,
connecting the battery to the starting
motor
The motor turns the flywheel ring gear
Starting System
De-energized
With the ignition key released to the “run”
position, no current flows to the solenoid
coil
The solenoid contacts open, the starter
stops turning, and the starter gear moves
away from the flywheel
Starting Motor Fundamentals
Converts electrical energy from the
battery to mechanical energy to crank
the engine
Produces a turning force through the
interaction of magnetic fields inside the
motor assembly
Magnetic Field Action
Made up of invisible lines of force
Since like charges (fields) repel each
other and unlike charges (fields) attract
each other, magnetic fields can
produce motion
Magnetic Field Action
Simple Electric Motor
If a current-carrying winding is placed
inside a magnetic field, the winding
rotates away from the pole shoes
Commutator and Brushes
Keep a motor turning by controlling the
current through the windings
Together, they serve as a sliding
contact between battery power and the
windings
Cont.…
The commutator
reverses the electrical
connection when the
loop rotates around
Increasing Motor Power
Several windings (loops of wire) and a
commutator with many segments are
used to increase motor power
As the motor spins, many windings
contribute to the motion
Armature
Supports the windings
Increases the strength of each
winding’s magnetic field
Field Windings
Stationary insulated wire wrapped in a
circular shape
When current flows, the magnetic field
between the pole shoes becomes very
large
This field acts against the armature’s
field, producing motion
Armature and
Field Windings
Starter Pinion Gear
Small gear on the armature shaft
Engages a large ring gear on the
engine flywheel
Moves into and meshes with the
flywheel ring gear
Starter Pinion Gear
Part of the pinion drive mechanism
Overrunning Clutch
Locks in one direction
Releases in the other direction
Allows the pinion gear to turn the
flywheel ring gear for starting
Lets the pinion gear freewheel when
the engine starts
Cont.…
Locks the flange to
the pinion gear in
one direction and
releases in the other
direction
Overrunning Clutch Operation
Rollers jam and lock
in one direction and
release in the
other direction
Pinion Gear Assembly
Pinion gear assembly slides on the shaft
for engagement
Starter Solenoid
An electromagnetic switch
Makes an electrical connection
between the battery and the starting
motor
Allows the low current ignition switch
circuit to control the high current
starting motor
Cont.…
Plunger movement
pulls the disc into
contact with two
battery terminals to
activate the starter
Solenoid Operation
Low current flows through the windings
The magnetic field pulls the solenoid
plunger and disc toward the windings
The disc touches both of the high-
current terminals
High current flows to the starter motor
Solenoid
Operation
Solenoid Functions
Closes the battery-to-starter circuit
Pushes the starter pinion gear into
mesh with the flywheel ring gear
Bypasses the resistance wire in the
ignition circuit
Starting Motor
Construction
Two types:
movable pole shoe starting motor
starter-mounted solenoid (starting motor
with solenoid)
Movable Pole Shoe Starting Motor
Uses a yoke
lever to move
the pinion gear
into contact with
the flywheel
Movable Pole Shoe Starting Motor
Magnetic field
pulls the pole shoe
downward,
causing gear
engagement as
the armature
starts to spin
Starter-Mounted Solenoid
Solenoid
plunger moves
a shift lever to
engage the
pinion gear
Starter-Mounted Solenoid
Solenoid
completes the
battery-to-starter
circuit
Solenoid
Operation
Permanent-Magnet Starter
Uses special high-strength magnets in
place of conventional field windings
Starting Motor Torque
A starting motor must produce high
torque
Difference in gear size between the
small pinion and large flywheel ring
gear increases turning torque
Reduction Starter
Extra gears further increase torque
Internal Motor Circuits
Series-wound motor
Shunt-wound motor
Compound-wound motor
Series-Wound Motor
Develops maximum torque at initial start-
up and decreases as motor speed
increases
Shunt-Wound Motor
Produces less starting torque but more
constant torque at varying speeds
Compound-Wound Motor
Has both series and shunt windings and
produces good starting power and
constant operating speed
Neutral Safety Switch
Prevents the engine from cranking
unless the shift selector is in neutral or
park
Mounted on the shift lever or on the
transmission
Neutral Safety Switch
Wired in series
with the starter
solenoid
Starter Relay
Opens or closes one circuit by
responding to an electrical signal from
another circuit
Uses a small current from the ignition
switch to control a larger current
through the starter solenoid
Reduces the load on the ignition switch
Starter Relay Operation
Ignition switch is turned to “start”
Current flows through the relay
windings
Magnetism closes the relay contacts
Contacts complete the circuit to the
solenoid windings, operating the starter
motor
Starting System Circuit
Common Problems on Starting
system
No-crank problem
crankshaft does not rotate
Slow-cranking condition
crankshaft rotates slower than normal
Solenoid clicking
caused by low battery or poor
connections
Noises
caused by overrunning clutch or flywheel
tooth wear
Thank You!
