As an automotive redirector component, found between the starter motor and the car battery is the starter solenoid. Its purpose is to shift a more prominent electric current out of the cell to the engine once the car’s ignition activates. Any kind of vehicle will fail to start if a solenoid does not get enough power from a battery. A starter solenoid, when jump started, is both for checking the component and to see what it would be like to start a car with a solenoid that is not of good quality. If you’re a DIY person, it would be wise to read the correct procedure to jump-start a solenoid battery.
- First and foremost, the car battery must be checked if it can deliver electric charge that’s enough to power on the solenoid and the vehicle. Even when the solenoid starter is not good, it will still need enough current for testing. The car battery only requires a straightforward process of testing. Lift up the hood of your car and then look for the battery.
- The next thing to do would be to check the voltage of the battery that will require the use of a voltmeter. Locate the positive connector of the cell and attach the lead from the voltmeter with a red indicator. Do the same with the connector that’s black-colored and connect it to the negative-symbol component. The fair reading is 12v and anything lower than a voltage of 11.8 means that the battery should be charged. Repeat this test right after the battery has been charged. Continue on when it finally reads 12v.
- Like other car components, the starter solenoid also needs a good cleaning because it produces corrosion. When connectors are loose, it won’t work the way it’s supposed to. The main issue will be that the amount of voltage and electrical charge lessens when improperly maintained. Unscrew the nuts using a wrench and clean off the debris from corrosion from the battery’s terminals. You may also use abrasive materials such as a scouring pad or a sandpaper to get rid of staining. Cables that have been damaged should be replaced with new ones right away.
- To be able to jump a starter solenoid, try to locate it inside the hood. It is usually placed at the upper side of the starter motor and right beside the battery. The appearance of the starter solenoid looks like a tiny device in black with two smaller wires and a bigger one, the ignition lead, attached to the battery. There are various designs of solenoids. Therefore, their location can also be different, from the bottom or the top of the car. If it’s at the bottom, you can always use a jack stand to lift the vehicle.
- Start testing the solenoid to see if it can draw enough current from the battery. You must thoroughly check it first before deciding if it’s bad. Ask someone to fill in the driver seat after putting the car in park mode. At the bottom of the hood, use a pair of pliers to detach the ignition lead away from the starter solenoid. Use a voltmeter and have the red lead connected to the ignition lead and use the black lead to touch it against the solenoid’s frame. Ask the driver to start the car through the ignition key. The voltmeter should be registering 12V for a good solenoid.
- A starter solenoid bypass is possible to be able to jump a starter if the latter is not useful. You can do this by producing an electric current surge from the battery by using a long screwdriver with a rubber handle insulated from the inside. Touch the bladed shaft to the post that leads to the starter. This looks like a metal bolt and a battery cable that’s thick in size connecting to the solenoid. After using the screwdriver to touch the two terminals, tell the driver to start the car by means of the ignition key. The shaft of the screwdriver became a temporary switch that transferred the electrical current from the battery straight to the starter motor. You can tell right away if the starter begins cranking that you’re dealing with a solenoid that has gone bad. For your safety, make sure that your hands have not touched any of the metal components as well as the shaft of the screwdriver or the engine. Turn the engine off and get the screwdriver away from it. The heat will eventually weld the rod to the terminals of the starter solenoid.
How to select a starter solenoid
Starter solenoids are also available online where you can find vast inventories of both old and brand new parts. It is highly recommended to use brand new components to be sure that you are paying for quality. When in doubt, do some research to find out about the best brands that have received the highest ranking from professional and DIY buffs.