How To Test A Car Starter With A Screwdriver And Jumper Cables! 

A word of advice from someone with experience; when putting power to the posts, install the nut first on both posts so when the jumper cables arc you don't mess up the threads. You can ruin the studs that way and you'll never get the nut back on if the starter is tested and turns out to be good.

that's probably one of the best diy videos i've seen on you tube so far. simple and to the point.

Yo Adrian, we did it!!

Thanks a lot for a clear and concise video on testing the starter. It's the next step in figuring out what's failed on my truck. I've seen other videos, but yours added the parts about checking the solenoid, motor, etc individually, which others skipped.

Here I am 11 years later, thanks! Trying to fix my friend's Kubota tractor that isn't cranking at all, and this will be a big help on ruling out the starter itself.

Hey fellas, a little tip. If possible make up a couple of jumper wires to attach to the starter terminals. Tighten them, and attach the jumper cable as instructed, then use a momentary switch, between the 2 leads, this will eliminate the sparking and risk of "welding" wires together. Touching the terminals damages the threads, making a reinstall more difficult. I've also made a jig, 2 wires, a momentary switch, and 2alligator clips. Attach jumper to large starter term., attach 1clip to "s" terminal, the other to the large (bat) terminal. Press and release switch to activate starter. Also a bit of wd40 on the starter drive, while engaging can't hurt either.

It's a good test to do when buying a rebuilt starter. I've bought several rebuilt parts that weren't any good, so if this test doesn't spin the motor, don't waste your time installing it but just because it does spin doesn't mean it will spin when put on a load, as klowny1969 stated in the video. A couple of things that weren't mentioned were the starter relay (just jump it to test it) and the wires (both positive and negative) that can be bad. A resistance test (ohms test) can show that the wires are good when actually, they aren't. You would need to do a voltage drop test while the starter is under a load to properly test them. If you don't know how to perform a voltage drop test, it's very easy with a multimeter. RU-vid has plenty of instructional videos on how to perform voltage drop and relay jump test, so I won't go there. Good Luck!

I had done this years before and couldn't remember clearly exactly how to do it. Your video was perfect and saved me a ton of struggling and money! Thanks!

Thanks for the very simple and effective video, the best explanation on starters I’ve seen on RU-vid.

That was pretty good. Your correct, this quick check only checks it in a none load condition, and works about 90% of the time. If the starter works out of the car but when installed in the car (under load) barely turns the engine over, 99% of the time it's either a bad starter, bad cable or a weak battery. I had a weak starter on my 7.3L diesel engine, worked great out of the car but barely turned the engine over. I also had a bad (Internally Corroded) battery cable going to the starter on my 99 Dodge Grand Caravan. The starter passed a load test and the battery passed a load test but the car continued to start slowly and have electrical issues. After the positive battery cable was replaced going to the starter the slow hard start problems went away. We opened the cable and found on the bottom loop it was badly corroded. Our indications were a good voltage at the battery when we tried to start it, but about a 4V drop ~(8.5V) at the starter positive terminal when trying to start it. I thought you did pretty good job on the video. Thanks for sharing it with us. Thumbs up! Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith Noneya

Awesome! Thanks so much I really appreciate your no-nonsense style!!!!

I'll finally remember this now. Thanks!

I love how you do everything off-camera in this video.

Thanks great video! My husband watched this video and changed my starter saved us $$. Now off to enjoy this memorial weekend. Oh also my old starter passed all the test with the spark plugs but I guess it didn't have enough Power to start. Any who I'm happy. Thank you soo much.

I found your video very true but with one exception I would like to share with you! I have worked on starters for many years now. But I found out something by accident! My sons' car won't start (battery new) The battery was up to 12.5v but nothing. So I removed his starter and had Advance Auto test it while I watched. 3x it tested good but when I reinstalled it, nothing. So I took a starter off a similar car (salvage yard) install it and it fired up. While the old starter worked during the test but when there was a load on it (turning the engine over) nothing! (to tired to turn the engine over)

you made this very easy to troubleshoot...thank you!

Just cleaned up the starter on my '86 Chevy K20. Thanks for the info!

Great video this one will definitely save people money from not replacing unnecessary parts.Thanks.

You are awesome...no words can explain! Thank you Boss

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!!

Great video, with no filler. Thanks!

Very helpful, thanks ! 🔩

Thank you sir! My van caught fire when I put a new battery and tried I'm going to keep watching I'm building this van for my daughter

I like how he cleared his throat before the first test

Great communicator - thanks Klowny.

Yo .... Klowny , finally a video I can understand and actually hands on know how ! Awesome job man ! You are the man ! Thanks

Thanks for posting this man, it helps a lot

Thanks for the upload! That was really helpful!

Thank you!!! This video helped me get my 1990 dodge b350 going again!!

Should be noted that some models of starters have no solenoid, so when you connect the red positive to the starter the test will already be underway. Great video, thanks

Simple and direct! Instructions are really easy to follow. Keep doing what your doing, klowny1969!

Awesome, helpful video. Thanks!

This was so helpful bro.

hey this video has been a huge help thank you!

Very informative - Thanks!

You are the best of All here. I watched 10 videos and yours is the only one I understand Nice job.

Great video, very informative and easy to understand. Subbed and liked.

The best I have seen. Thanks.

excellent video...thank you for taking the time to post this!

Towards the end there, you were talkin about cleaning up the terminals, which, you can go to your local auto parts store(Like NAPA, AutoZone or O'Reilly's part stores.), they will have a terminal cleaning tool, which is technically a dual tool, where to clean the male terminals, you use the female wiry you first see, but, there is a male wiry tool, that is hidden under the handle of the tool, which turns a lil bit and pull apart. Another tool, that works good, is a wood handle tool, that looks similar to a toothbrush, but has either brass or stainless steel wires.

This guys sounds like Rocky Balboa after part 5 haha

Great video. Thanks for sharing!

This was really helpful. Thanks for making this video

Thank you for an easy to follow instructions. Moreover, you cut to the chase and helped me out unlike other you tube videos.

Good roadside test, thanks mate. Superb.

Thanks for this video and info,

Very helpful! Thanks, I really needed this information!

this is a pretty helpful vid thanks good sir i learned something new

Excellent video really helped me with my starter on my 63 ' Chevy Nova tks..

I like video testing starter n solenoid it will help lot peoplesay save money . More videos like this appreciated.

your a genius bro wow,i will remember this next time i service my starter motor,,, keep up the good work,,godbless

Awesome-- super helpful stuff! Many thanks for posting this video, bro.

Thanks Rocky :) love it

Great video man informative right to the point

This video was a lot of help thankyou

thanks for Video it was very good

Great video, useful for troubleshooting and you learn something new every day

Great video and info , thanks . It helped me a lot before installing the starter .

Great video rocky thanks

Very good info. Thanks

thank you for the information

tks. i needed that useful info. cause i got a 2003 in trouble !

I appreciate your video man. You were really helpful.

Thank you. Very helpful

Very informative video, thanks!

Thank You! great trouble shooting video.

thank you very much for sharing your expertise. super helpfull

Thanks for the video. Very informative.

OMG!! I thought the same thing! Hey Rocky!

I like how detailed you made the video.

Great video, very informative. I especially like that you are getting the information across without feeling like you have to show your face more than your subject matter. I get so sick of watching "informative" videos where the auther is hell bent on showing his mug. Again, great job!

Just what I searched for thank you!

Good video

awesome vid!!!

Thanks Rocky! My starter turned out OK. 👍😀

dude you sound like Salvester Stallon. im kinda jealous

great video!

Great DYI video. Thanks...

Thank you for this video you made it sound like you were talking to a friend. Giving details on how to hook it all up, what to look for, and the "if than else.." information at the end

Great video. This is what I was looking for. I want to test a starter before I install it into my truck. Thanks for sharing.

good job man,thanks

[my, dad showed me this year's ago. thank, you for you're video]👍

This was very useful I like your demonstration. Thank you very much. 4Sherman

thanks dude needed your help and you did wonders realise that it was not the starter motor but the fuse gotta Love RU-vid

You did Great job

thanks for info ...will try it tomorrow tnx

thank you simple and to the point

I like your video! Thanks! You saved me like $30!

Good video man !

thanks for the video, it was a great help. 👍

thanks, wished I'd known about this video before I had my veh taken to the dealer.

Great demo - Thanks mate :-)

for a young mechanic thats good to kno thanks

Yo Adriane

Also keep note that heat increases resistence so it might also be the starter when its hot only..you could have a dead spot on the starter as well... I would put a test light on the small stud (s terminal) and try to replicate it again..make sure u have power there..check to see all your cables are tight as well..battery going to starter...

Well explained appreciate ✌🇯🇲😎

Great video

Great video. Thank you very much.

Excellent.

great video