This is a great video. Not only do you explain what is happening and why, but you also show video and sound of it happening as an example. It's so rare on RU-vid nowadays to find somebody so neatly and knowledgeable put together a video like this. My hat's off to you, sir.
@@RobertDIY I was curious how long it took you to make this video. I was thinking "Does this guy have a starter with every issue just laying around?" Lol
I was thinking the same thing! I’ll remember that fly wheel every time I have to listen for starting issues. The visual makes all the difference, thanks for the content!
Skeptical of my starter being bad but your video helped secure my suspicions and getting it replaced tonight! Truly one of the best instructionals ive seen
I've got to get mine replaced this weekend on my 98 Buick century limited. I have taken a metal prong thingy and touch the 2 bolts on the starter. They will spark but it kicks in the solenoid and then cranks. I can't deal with it anymore. I'm just glad it's lasted long enough for me to get up the 55.00. lol
Thank you so much Robert. My Mustang was DOA when I walked out the other day, its a 1 Click situation, I'll go grab a new starter. Kindness is never a waste of time, and you are very kind to bother to try to help out so many of us who have a problem and are stuck. Thanks Robert, have a great day.
Finally! The first of a dozen videos about starter motors where the symptom of my problem was addressed! No other video talked about the bendex failing and what that sounds like. Thank you so much for very your helpful and informative video. 🙏
I'm not a mechanic. I am a DJ but I love to love to work on my Corvettes. I have a mechanic friend and Robert reminds me so much of him. EXCELLENT video. You ought to consider doing some kind of course or master class. Your explanations are superb and you are on point! Thank you for all you do!
I'm here a few years after you posted, but I want to tell you Robert, this was an excellent video. You walk through the failure modes that are frequently encountered, you give good examples of those conditions, and you explain how the components all work together to start an engine. I wish RU-vid had more content creators like yourself. We need more aspiring mechanics and also people who just understand the basics of how their vehicles work on basic levels! Great job and thank you!
@@RobertDIY I saw how old your video was n came directly to the comments to see if you were "active" recently before deciding to subscribe 😉 Seeing that you responded to this comment from only 3 months ago did the trick. Will now be a new subscriber. Btw, I agree whole handedly with all the comments I read. Hope you are having a great start to your new year. 😊 ✌
Brother, literally hearing what problems one might have with starting an engine in your demonstrations is a lesson for all those who's videos have left me clueless. Outstanding presentation! You, sir, have solved my starter issue. Thank you!!
I had a mechanic tell me it was my alternator and I was pretty bummed when I bought one and spent the time to put it in only to find out nothing changed. This perfectly described the sounds and symptoms my truck had. I put a new starter in and she took right off. All the other videos tell you to expect a clicking sound or nothing to happen when its the starter. Thanks for putting in the work to make this video!
After watching around 5-6 videos, I found yours and am so thankful! My daughter in laws starter gave out. So when I finally found your video, you explained everything & she didn’t get ripped off at the auto body because you told us exactly what was wrong with her starter. And you explained everything so good!! Thank you so very much!!
Very helpful video. Fantastic explanation and the sound samples make it easy for anyone to diagnose a bad starter. Best informational video on the subject on RU-vid. Well done.👍🏻 excellent teacher.
Thanks alot. You are the first person I've watched that comes across genuine and bothers to explain the little in betweens that turn out to be very useful information to some of us that desperately need to have as much ability to fix our vehicles minor issues that couldn't afford to have done elsewhere. Thanks so much man!!
Thank you!! My friend who used to manage at an auto repair shop was trying to tell me all kinds of things BUT the starter. I knew in my gut he wasn’t chasing the right issue. Sure enough in the first 60 seconds of the video you explained exactly what’s happening on mine, a single click! Thank you for validating my gut feelings and explaining this so so well. I knew it wasn’t my battery. No rapid fire clicking, no dimming of lights.
You're videos have helped me in rough spots over the years! You were one of the first RU-vidr mechanic videos I ever watched! You always have had an organic way of explaining things so anyone can understand. Thank you for the time! I'm sure you've helped alot of people out!
Thanks Mr Robert. Initially I thought I need to replace my starter after I heard only multiple clicks when it engages. U saying it's bad or weak battery. I changed battery and there u go... thanx man saved me from buying unnecessary parts.
Very nicely done. Just the facts, illustrated, with sound explanations, not overly technical, all recorded very cleanly, without background noise, and with clear dialog. Best of all it's comprehensive, therefore more likely to be on point for anyone looking for a little guidance, like myself. Thanks so much, and props, Robert.
You seriously showed me exactly what I was looking for. I’ve been searching through so many videos and not one was anything like this one. You explain it so well and even allowed me to hear what it sounds like and sounds exactly what’s going on with my car! Thanks a lot !! Subscribed and Liked!!
Thank you Robert , Great video, you explained everything in such a way that I completely comprehended and understood everything you presented and it helped me determine that the problem i was experiencing was a bad starter with a dead spot that caused me fear of being stranded. I recently went and had it replaced and my fear is gone. I liked and subscribed to your channel and can't thank you enough.
Lots of good videos of starter replacement out there, but this one is one of the best. Gave an explanation of the sounds you'll hear in different situations that the other videos don't mention. As a mechanic myself, I know these things, but I don't know everything. Happened upon this video and took a look and I'm glad I did. Lots of young mechanics or kids with their first car can and will benefit from this video!! Nice job, keep up the good work!!
As a first-time car owner with engine starting issues, I have learned a lot from this man. Several mechanics have failed to identify the issue but one long-time spare parts dealer told me the bendix might be an issue. Surprisingly, this is what I have seen here today. Thank you again.
This is the BEST video. Had issues with my XJ starter and every video answered one question at a time, leaving a novice like me in the dark about the whole situation. The sound examples, impact, descriptions... AWESOME. Thank you, I've subscribed :)
This video really breaks it down to whats going on with diagnosing car starting problems! I have never seen a better video about explaining or diagnosing starters and I am 67 years old! I'm pretty good at understanding and working on vehicles and explaining car problems to other friends and family members, but I wish you were my auto shop teacher when I was many,many moons younger!!!! You are a great teacher!!!!!!!!!
Really helpful. Just bought a 1977 F250 Highboy and I stalled it on a steep hill with a snow plow, and these clicks are what I am hearing when I try to crank it again. I will do a process of elimination and I have more confidence knowing that I will find out what might be wrong. Thank you for such an informative video. It's a joy to learn about old cars. So many folks told me not to get something this old, and that it would be a terrible mistake. I ain't giving up!
I'm subscribing. You are a fantastic teacher. Simple but detailed. Explained symptoms, showed them and explained how the parts work and are connected. Keep making videos sir!
This is a GREAT VIDEO!!! New sub!❤👍 🙏🏻 My father was a mechanic and taught me a lot. Unfortunately he passed away and 97 and I really miss him. You explain things like my dad used to explain things to me and that’s priceless!
Mr Robert is a rare breed !! A man who knows what he is talking about and can also explain it so the average Joe can understand what he is saying. No BS, no endless babbling about crap not related to the subject - Love it ! Great job, Sir.
Thank you, Robert, for this informative lesson on the various noises a failing starter will make - I believe that my bendix is going because my car's been doing that intermittently lately. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us all here on RU-vid!
Great video. My 1996 Corvette has the LT1 5.7 engine and after installing a new battery, the single CLICK was worrying me. I immediately thought it may be the starter or bendix. Your video confirmed exactly what I was guessing at. Thank you so much for this video. You would make a great auto mechanics teacher at a vocational college.
BEST Starter instructional video. Awesome Mechanic & Awesome Teacher who explains Every detail about starters in a very easy to understand way in 7 minutes. Thank You Robert!
I like this man's style. Not only does he explain the sounds but he demonstrates them too and then proceeds to explain what is going on inside the part.
Hi Robert, love your video, super helpful for my situation. I'm in South Africa, and this is probably the most clearly articulated description of how a starter motor and the bendix works to turn over a car motor, we'll done on this video, its not always easy to talk to the layman about car mechanics like this.
I replaced the starter on my 1996 Nissan Quest today. For the last year it’s been sounding unhealthy but I thought that’s just the way it was supposed to be. When it finally left me stranded, I hammered on it and it started up and got me back home safely. Oh man, the new starter sounds and turns over so smoothly now-it’s awesome. You make good videos. You’ve made a few videos about the quest that were helpful. What a great van they used to be. Thanks!
Great video tutorial as always. My Volvo S40 is doing this now. I'm bringing it to my mechanic so he can evaluate the situation and get it squared away. Thx Robert!
Hi Robert: Thank you for the upload of instructional video. Your demonstration is one of the best on the internet. We don't have mechanics like you any more who put a lot of efforts and love into his work. I found your video very well detailed to the point and liked your video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. God bless you.
I found several videos that will say, "This is how your starter sounds when it's going bad" and then turn the engine over. They say it sounds terrible, put in a new starter, turn it over again, and it sounds exactly the same. They never explain what sound I was supposed to hear. You sir, took the time to explain it clearly and concisely before you even showed us the car. Then, you demonstrate multiple types of failures, explain what the starter is and how it works. I learned so much in the 7 minutes of your video that I liked and subscribed. I normally don't subscribe unless there are a minimum of 3 videos that I find useful. I can't wait to see what your channel has to offer.
Yet another that has been a God send for someone who knows very little about cars. I recently got a 97 850 volvo and it's needed some work but with these videos he has saved my life. I'm so thankful for you and these videos!! Ty ty ty man
I listened to your words intently and understood. My wife's GMC TERRAIN all of the sudden, didn't want to start. She called me, I heard one click sound. I asked her to turn on, wait turn off, wait. She did it four times, and it cranked up. She drove home, I'll replace her starter. Thanks for your video. Awesome
This is probably the best, no, it is the best automotive video I've ever watched. Everything explained so that it could be understood, all images crystal clear. Excellent job!
@@RobertDIY Looks like pretty much everyone else here agrees. I'ts nice of people to post vids on here to help people out, but most of them are done very poorly it's like a waste of time. If they were all like yours it would be great.
Yayy! Over the years I've had to parse bits and pieces together. This is the first time I've seen someone willing to and capable of explaining how the starter works including the flow of the battery power. Congratulations and thank you!! I've subscribed.
Watched again. Just got my little truck back from dealership due to electrical issues. Turns out... im back where I began. Spoke to mech and he suggested tapping on the starter. After this vid and the convo.. this "COULD" very well be a bad starter and or solenoid. Thank u again sir.
Being one of those ladies that loves to know what is broken and how it's fixed exactly before taking it to my mechanic I wanna say you Sir are awesome! Thanks for that video to help us, ladies, to not get ripped off. By the way, I'm a jock of all trades master of none and yes I do light work on my car. Thank you!
Hands down best video. My car cranks but only for a second before it stop. And every time I turned the key it sounds like it wants to start more and more. This happened to me about 2 months ago and it started after about 3-4 tries and didn’t give me any problems again until now. I haven’t driven it in about 2 weeks
Thank you for this video! It has solved an insanely frustrating months long problem AND explained all of the things that made diagnosing it so frustrating and why whacking the starter with a wrench worked. My Forester randomly wouldn't start, but if I kept trying it would start. It might take two or three times or I could be trying for more than a half hour, but it'd start and then be perfectly fine for awhile and everything would test fine when I took it in for repair. The fact that a bad spot on the generator would cause this and it would explain why if I tried to have it towed in during one of the long time no start sessions, it'd start right up after taking it off the tow truck. Putting it on the tow truck jostled it enough to move the starter past the bad spot on the generator. My car wouldn't start last night and I tried for hours, and did testing with a voltmeter, but got nowhere. The Forester starter is located in an awkward place for me to reach to test with confidence, so we were putting that off til last. I watched a video that suggested gently whacking the starter with a wrench. I did and it worked - started right up and has kept starting w/o an issue. They didn't explain why that would work. Your explanation makes the whole saga of these last few months make perfect sense. I can now take it in for repair and explain what is wrong with the starter and why it won't fail for them. I'm so relieved to be able to put this behind me.
Wow, this is incredible! I keep reading and hearing “this is a starter problem,” no this is, etc. (on forums). You explained all of the possible scenarios, including what I believe mine to be, confirming it is, indeed, my issue. And further go on to show examples, then testing. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!
Agreeing with many of the other comments, this is a GREAT video. Not a lot of unnecessary chatter. It was easy to follow and understand. Thank you sir!☺
the sound you showed around 3:00 is exactly what happens to my BMW E90 328i, it makes that grinding noise and then clunks when it finally touches the flywheel, the person before me replaced the starter and I believe he replaced it with a faulty part, I’ve been restoring it over the past week and your video really helped calm my neves thank you!
This is so so helpful! My car’s been doing this intermittently, but seeing a video of it put my mind entirely at ease because that’s exactly what it’s been doing
Very helpful I needed to know the sounds I thought it was my starter but you described #3 perfectly! Thanks for being so descriptive and explaining each one! I would 5 star you if I could!
The last example you gave is what’s going on with my car the only thing is it does not keep running it stops it’s just a. Longer start but I figured it was my starter and wanted to make sure before I replace it thank you sir I like the way you break down the information
