Got a car that won't start? A faulty starter could be the culprit. Learn how to diagnose starter problems..
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5 Ways To Start a Car With a Bad Starter
Updated on Jul. 30, 2025
Dealing with a car that won’t start can be extremely frustrating, especially when the cause isn’t immediately clear. One problem can be a faulty starter motor. But before jumping to conclusions or spending money on costly repairs, it’s important to properly diagnose the issue. Read on to learn how to identify signs of a bad starter, rule out other common causes like a weak battery or ignition issues, and discover a few handy tricks that might help you start your car when you’re stuck with a bad starter.
Recognizing a Bad Starter in Your Car
There are many possible reasons why a vehicle fails to start. One potential culprit is a bad starter motor. So your first step in knowing how to start a car with a bad starter is determining the problem. Here’s what to do:
- Turn the key.
- If the car won’t start and you hear a chattering noise (this often sounds like rapid clicking), the problem is most likely your battery and not the starter.
- If the engine turns over but won’t start, chances are it’s not your starter or battery, but something else, such as the ignition or issues with the fuel.
- If you turn the key and there’s no noise at all, or just one click, it might be a bad starter.
- Now, check the battery terminals.
- Dirty wire connections could be the issue. Disconnect the wires safely and clean the terminals if there’s any corrosion buildup visible. Corrosion often looks like either white or bluish-green buildup. Reconnect the wires, then check the battery with a voltmeter. It should show at least 12.5 volts. Less than 12 volts means your battery is weak, and you’ll need a jump to get it going. If a jump starts your vehicle, your problem likely wasn’t the starter.
- Assuming your starter is bad, keep reading for different ways to start a car with a bad starter.
Temporary Fix for Starter Issues: Tools You’ll Need
Before performing a temporary fix for starter issues, it’s important to understand the tools you’ll need to ensure the safety of yourself and your car.
Essential tools
- Jumper cables: Jumper cables are essential for testing or jump-starting with a bad starter.
- Mallet or hammer: These are useful when tapping the starter to start cars, as they can free up stuck components.
- Wrench: Wrenches help you safely disconnect battery terminals. If not, you could also use a socket set.
- Voltmeter: These devices help rule out starter issues as they can help you check the battery voltage.
- Flashlight: Bright and durable flashlights can help you gain good visibility.
Optional tools
- Starter relay: Starter relays or fuse testers can help you check if a blown fuse or faulty relay might be the core issues.
- Protective gear: Rubber gloves and goggles will help you resolve issues in a safe manner.
- Jack and stands: If your car model has its starter motor under the hood, you will require a jack and stands to better aid your fixes.
How To Start a Car with a Bad Starter
Clean the positive connection between the battery and the starter
The cables connected to your battery each have two ends. The positive cable connects the positive battery terminal to the positive starter terminal. If this connection is faulty, your starter won’t work.
Open your hood and find the starter on the driver’s side of the engine. It’s a cylindrical component with a cable attachment. Check the positive connection and look for any corrosion signs or loose connections. Disconnect it with a wrench and clean the starter terminal with a wire brush if you see any corrosion that could interrupt the flow of electricity. Try wiggling the connections gently to see if they’re loose. Use a wrench to disconnect the cable when in doubt and reconnect securely. If a bad connection was the problem, your vehicle should start once you turn the key in the ignition.
To avoid corrosion in the future, applying a thin layer of dielectric grease on the terminals can help prevent build-up.
Clean the negative connection of the battery to the vehicle
The negative pole of your car’s battery connects to the metal body of your vehicle, or possibly to the engine block, to act as a grounding system. Poor connections can also cause the starter not to work. Follow the negative cable to this connection point, then examine it.
If you see corrosion, disconnect it with a wrench and clean it with a wire brush. Corrosion here often looks like a white or bluish green buildup; besides, it’s also possible to notice oxidation signs like rust — this must be cleaned, too.
A bad connection here could also be responsible for your starter not working. Reconnect the clean terminals, then try to start your vehicle again. If the negative connection was faulty, your car should now start.
Check the negative terminal as part of your maintenance routine. Protective spray can often prevent corrosion build-up and prevent starter issues.
Hit the starter with a hammer or piece of wood
Sometimes the electrically conductive brushes inside a starter motor begin to wear out, or the springs holding them against the armature (spinning part) grow weak. When one or more of the brushes breaks contact with the armature, your starter won’t work, and neither will your vehicle.
To get things started, find the starter motor under your hood (this can be on the underside in certain models). It’s often placed near the engine and beside the transmission. Then, proceed to strike the starter with gentle taps with either a hammer or a mallet. Avoid striking too hard, as this might risk damaging the starter. Sometimes, using wood can also work if you don’t have a hammer.
Check the solenoid wires if your starter has an external solenoid
The solenoid is an electromagnetic switch that converts the small amount of current from the ignition switch to the large amount needed to get the starter going. Solenoids are key components of your starter system and can be vital to fix if you notice bad starter symptoms.
Solenoids can be built into starters or separated and connected with a wire. If your vehicle has an external solenoid, there’s a chance the wire connecting it to your starter has come loose, or the connection is dirty. Check, reconnect and clean with a wire brush as needed. If this was the problem, your vehicle should now start.
Also, watch out for cracked or frayed wires while inspecting the solenoid connection. Replace any damaged wires you find.
Push start your manual transmission vehicle
This trick only works for manual transmission cars. It’s a way of bypassing your bad starter to get your vehicle running.
Sit inside your vehicle with the key held in the start position and the clutch held in. Put it in second gear, as this gear has a lower chance of stalling when compared to the first. Then have two or three strong friends push your vehicle. The idea is to get the car rolling at a fairly good clip until it reaches about 5-10mph, then release the clutch while still turning the key. Do it right, and your car should start, despite your faulty starter motor.
Ensure you perform this maneuver away from steep inclines or areas with traffic, and make sure everyone pushing is clear of the vehicle before releasing the clutch. Since this is a temporary fix for starter issues, it’s important to schedule repairs or maintenance soon after.
FAQ
Can jump starting with a bad starter help?
Jump starting with a bad starter might help if the battery has low voltage (typically below 12V ). However, if a starter is the issue, jump-starting might not solve the problem.
Sources:
- Northrich Automotive: “Nine Signs You Have A Failing Car Starter in Your Vehicle and What to Do About It”
- ASDC: “How to diagnose and fix a car’s starter motor problems”
- South Denver Automotive: “What Are the Signs of a Bad Starter?”
- Hella: “Checking the starter.”
