Your Mazda needs a functioning starter motor in order for the engine to start. Think of it as your Mazda engine’s Mini-Me. A lot more goes on than you realize when you press the start button or turn the ignition key. If the starter motor is going bad, you may experience one or more of the following problems. Do not worry. Mazcare can replace your Mazda’s starter when it needs it.
Clicking or Whirring Noises
The most common sign that the starter is going bad is a strange noise between the time that you press the start button or turn the ignition key and when the engine fires up. You may hear clicking sounds, or you may hear whirring noises. Even if the engine starts after you hear either of these noises, it’s important to bring your Mazda to our shop right away. This is a warning that you are on your way to a dead engine.
A Dead Mazda Engine…
If you cannot get your Mazda’s engine started, it’s possible that the starter motor has died completely. Unfortunately, no amount of effort will get the engine started if the starter motor is bad. As its name suggests, the engine cannot start without the starter. On average, the factory-install starter will last about 100,000 miles. If you drive an older Mazda and cannot get the engine started, it could be the starter.
… With Working Lights
You can check this by checking your Mazda’s lights. If they are working but the engine is dead, this points to a problem with the starter. The lights will not work if the battery or alternator is dead because they will not be supplied with the necessary electricity to operate. A dead engine with working lights is an indication that there is a problem with the starter rather than the battery or alternator.
Hot Odors and Smoke
You may also smell hot odors and see smoke coming out from underneath the hood if the starter motor is overheating. The most common cause of this problem is trying to start your Mazda too many times. If the starter is dead, the engine is dead. As we mentioned above, no amount of effort is going to fire it up.
An Oily Starter Motor
Finally, as an aside, you may end up with a dead starter before 100,000 miles or more if you have a cylinder block that is leaking in your Mazda’s engine. When this happens, oil will soak the starter motor and prevent it from working.
As we mentioned above, Mazcare in Marietta, GA, can replace your starter if it has gone bad. Call us today for an appointment.