Starting System - General Information and Precautions

The system cranks the engine to start it.

The main components of the system are the starter motor with its mounted solenoid switch, the battery, the ignition switch and the connecting wiring.

The starter motor assembly with solenoid switch is mounted on the upper part of the engine, near the transmission bell housing.

When the ignition key is turned to the START position, battery power is supplied through the starting control circuit to the starter solenoid switch. The solenoid switches battery power directly to the starter motor. The motor begins to rotate and, through the ring gear of the flywheel/drive plate, cranks the engine crankshaft.

On vehicles with a manual transmission, starter operation is possible only with the clutch pedal fully depressed. On vehicles with an automatic transmission, the selector lever must be in the “P” or “N” position.
Precautions
Observe the following special precautions when working on starting system components:

a) Be aware that excessive cranking with the starter may cause serious damage to the starter motor due to overheating. Never operate the starter continuously for more than 15 seconds; allow it to cool for one to two minutes afterward;
b) Be aware that the starter is connected directly to the battery. Careless handling, overloads and short circuits can cause arcing, which may in turn ignite the wiring;
c) When working on any starting system component, always disconnect the negative battery cable. If the vehicle's audio system has an anti-theft code, make sure you know the correct code before disconnecting the battery!