Car Parts and Car Starters

Most people don’t think about what happens when they start their cars. They have other things on their minds, like an upcoming work day, picking up a child at school, or whether they remembered the grocery list. They don’t think about the devices that have evolved over a hundred years to make it possible for them to have fast transportation with the crank of one key and two seconds of their time.

It’s sort of a cliché to think of the old starting systems. There were hand cranks, which were difficult and dangerous to use. In fact, one of the early pioneers of the electric starter was Charles Kettering, and engineer whose friend died from injuries received while using a hand crank starter.

How Today’s Starters Work -- Learning More About Car Parts

Much goes into getting your car on the road. It involves an electric motor and solenoid working in tandem to start the processes in the engine that will propel the car. The starter not only has to get things like the pumps and electrical system moving, but must also work against friction and pressure from the engine parts.

The starter begins its job when you turn the key by turning loose the power of the solenoid. This device acts like a power switch, and allows current to power the motor. The motor, in turn, powers whatever is necessary to start the car.

Often you will hear the starter referred to as a “bendix.” This is due to the large part Vincent Bendix played in its development. Bendix, an American inventor, patented the Bendix drive in 1910, which was simply a gear that allows contact between the starter and engine when the engine is in low rotation (before the actual “start”), and disengages at higher speeds. All of this is automatic, and the average car owner thinks little about it if at all.

Purchasing Car Parts -- Finding the Best Starters for Your Needs

You can purchase a new starter for you car at an auto parts store or the internet, but for some starters you can buy a re-building kit. You can also replace some Bendix drives, and often auto enthusiasts enjoy doing this themselves. If you are less confident of your ability to replace, repair, or rebuild a starter, have your local auto mechanic handle the job. The last thing you need on your hands is a new starter that won’t start the car.