How do you know if the starter on your car is not working?

There are a few checks that can be done to verify this.

Although some safety precautions are strongly advised, before attempting these procedures:

* Ensure the hand-brake is applied. * Ensure that the car is in Neutral, or Park (if Automatic). * Ensure that the Ignition Key has been removed from the Ignition Switch. Firstly, check the heavy duty cable connecting the solenoid to the battery, for continuity.

Using a jumper cable, connect the starter-motor directly to the battery. If you hear it spin, then it's OK. If not, then the starter-motor itself has burnt out and will need to be replaced. As most cars since the 1970's use the Pre-Engaged type Starter, where the motor and solenoid are built into a common unit, there's generally no need to proceed any further.

To check the solenoid, remove the terminal connection from the Ignition Switch and connect directly to the battery. If the solenoid is OK, you will hear a click, this can be quite loud so there's little chance of missing it. No click indicates that the solenoid is not working. On Pre-Engaged Starters, this unfortunately means that the whole unit must be replaced.

Next, check that there isn't a path to earth, caused by the cable connecting the low tension side of the solenoid to the Ignition Switch, grounding. Also check this wire for continuity. The rest of the starting circuit can be checked, by working backwards checking for interruptions in the supply of power from the battery.