My Car Wont Turn Over - How To Test The Starter / NSS / Ignition Switch 

Five years later and this is still one of the best videos on understanding the testing of the starter.

Best explanation I've seen on how a starter & ignition works. I wish everyone with these DIY videos would follow this guy's example.

Yep, I keep learning stuff every day... not that I'll remember it tomorrow. Sometimes I find myself watching my own vids to see how to do something;) Thanks for the help.

After watching this video, I was able to get my F150 started. This video is very descriptive with little jargon and live demonstrations that are actually visible to the viewer (that's hard to find). Thank you for your clear explanations.

I watched so many videos on this topic by far this was the best most helpful informational and cross brand applicable. thanks a trillion.

BEST STARTER/ SOLENOID explanation VIDEO I have found. NO fluff, No gibber gabber, Clear video, and explanation. Thank you Mat

My 97 Jeep clutch push rod broke in half at the Guatemala-Mexico border on our way to the USA, welded the rod back together to get us home, and by-passed the neutral safety switch. We made it back in 9 days Now, the battery can't hold a charge and the engine won;t start even with a battery charger/starter, though the solenoid clicks. (good news is the blower motor works again after years of it not working due to changing the ignition after a pin broke in the steering column). going out to try again after watching your video twice....good stuff.

Hi Matt, thank you very much for keeping this video online. Just started having intermittent starting issues with my Comanche and wanted to know how to start it in a pinch with my screwdriver if I needed to. You saved my day!

It's been 10 years and this is still a super useful video.

The best explanation on RU-vid. Literally!!!

Finally... a starter repair video where someone knows what he's talking about!

Thank you for the video. I've tested mine in the same way, worked like a charm. I found out that the positive starter lead was in really bad condition. Had to take the starter out of the engine bay to find out. So I've just replaced the wire. Thank you great people on earth.

Certainly, by far, the most comprehensive disclaimer in the universe!

Good video. It takes what others post and distills it down concisely. Going nuts presently n trying to test why all of the sudden the signal wire is not getting 12volts when ignition is turned over. Just got the car and it started 3 days ago. Car has not moved since then and now does not start. NEW battery, NEW Bosch starter and relay seems to be good. VW 1600 1970 engine 4 speed.

Thank you for taking the starter out to do this. I can actually SEE what I'm supposed to be doing. Now I can go test my starter. You're awesomesauce.

Thank you!!! Helping a buddy do this himself saved him a lot of money

the NASA helmet at the end was the icing on the cake of the only video that has helped me figure out what the Bleeping Bleep is going on with my Bleeping Jeep.

Thank you...You helped me fix my car without even being a mechanic....5 stars my friend

Great video and a lot of valuable information given in it. So I was troubleshooting a starting issue, which I eventually solved and it ended up being kind of a uncommon cause. I viewed many similar videos and none covered this cause. Basically my Jeep would start fine and run and I'd drive somewhere and turn it off. When I tried start it later it would just have fast clicking. Battery was charged, starter worked fine and jumping it only helped a tiny bit. The cause? Ground wire to the engine. While I did have two grounds, one on each head, apparently it wasn't enough. Anyway, added a new ground wire and everything works perfect now. At any rate, I did appreciate your video and found it helpful

Great video! I've watched at least a dozen on how to test the starter and this one finally explains it well! Thank you!

Saved the day! This works, the NSS paper clip trick did not for my case in a 1998 XJ. I wonder what that suggests? A fully cooked NSS or maybe something else hmm

Thanks for the video! We had a storm alert here in Kamloops B.C. and Using your video we got the jeep home just before it hit! Now I will wait for it to dry up before finding out if the N.S.S is the issue or if the ignition is the problem. Honestly though the ignition feels different when you turn the key so that is my bet. Thanks again! got a laugh out of the NASA helmet too :)

You are one of the best mechanics I watch on here. You go full in, don't hold alot back, and also teach how to fix it after diagnosis. I solved all my issues on my car from just watching your videos. Just keep making more!

Thank you so much! Your video was so informative and just plain so a novice like me can learn

Well those last two suggestions are over my head, even this was up there by my ears as you saw from my first attempt. Hope I got everything right in this one...

Matt, very well done. The solenoid if it doesn't click would be a bad solenoid. Your bypass of the solenoid with a screw driver is a good tip. Some batteries has 12.6 volts but when you apply a load to them they go under voltage. If this happens then replace the battery. A starter motor has such a large AMP DRAW it also makes a good battery tester. Matt a good video follow up is battery load tester and specific gravity tester for flooded lead acid batteries.

Thanks so much! I've always worked on my car with my Dad but now that I've moved away it's up to me. This really helps, cuz my Jeep won't start. Time to pull out the volt meter my dad gave me and I never thought I'd actually use! Haha, thanks!

Excellent video, explained well, good clear picture, I learnt a lot through watching , the best one i have seen yet.

Can't get no better than that with the information you offered thanks

Good job Matt, good to see you learn something new as you go along mate. If ever you do have a query or are not 100% sure about anything, feel free to pop me a PM and I will be happy to help you along with some advice and Info. I am a qualified mechanic of over 30 years and have had much experience with rebuilds, mods, hot rods and restorations, even creating some pretty out there custom jobs over the years. Cheers and keep up the good work mate Lee in Australia

Good video. Thanks for showing the part how about how to jump it with a screwdriver. I always though you jumped the hot to the ground (or jump the contacts in the solenoid), but I see what you are saying by the bendix won't push out and engage the starter. Thanks for showing that. Never knew that.

Thanks I be confident if I come around this kind of problems the major issue is finding a warm garage with a lift in it.

Man what an awesome video glad I found this just had a issue with my car turning over and this pinpointed the problem right away. Just saved me alot of money, Thanks again

Man, Thank You! for making it so easy to understand, By far the best helpful video.

Great video and fantastic example of activating the starter with the screwdriver. Thanks.

Very cool short and concise if that's the right spelling.another long video didn't even mention ignition switch. thank you

I wish I'd watched this video explaining the starter much earlier today instead of at 2 am; the other videos explaining how to test starter didn't explain it as well and now I wanna go out and try again..

Excellent explanation,I'll be tuning in

This was an amazing short and to the point video!..So much information to help nail the problem down. Thank you so much!

great vid on how to diagnose starter problem I'm having on the Jeep.

this helped the most by far keep it up man

Great explanation, by far. Simple and straightforward...you da man!!!

great video excellent descriptions and instructions .. even I as a woman could follow and understand thank u

Thanks for the info

Thanks you made it so simple for me , keep up the good teaching.

Thank you so much. I’m having problems with my starter or what I believe is the starter I will to bypass my ignition wire and plug to the starter positive to see if I get a crank.

Best explanation I've found and easy to understand! Thx!!

Best video I have found about starter. I have a question: My car have started to "click" then turning key. Battery perfect and also cables are fine due to voltage etc. BUT my starter in test 1 on your video throw out the solonoid but starter doesn't run. On test 2 the starter runs. What is the problem?

I needed this video! Great one, keep them coming!

HI great video. I have a slow crank and die situation on my van. Good battery Any ideas my friend thanks

Very clear and precise. Thank you.

awesome!! your videos help out.i have a crack on my starter solenoid. i think im just gonna replace it hopefully my car would start. but then again i had problems with the truck starting up sometimes i have to put it on neutral to start.... i need tips on that

best video for starter problems! Thanks

Fantastic tutorial on starter diagnostic! Thank you! Superior!

Very useful and to the point, thank you.

Very informative, clear and easy to follow. Helped me a lot. thanks

Loved the astronaut at the end. So random and hilarious!

1996 v6 mustang. Replaced ignition switch, Nss , and got the starter checked and they said it was good, also got a new battery. Car will not crank over and a remote starter switch will not start my car.

that was a badass detailed video man, thanks.

Great video. I learn something today.

Hey matt my jeep wont crank it was fine a lil bit ago new batt good connections good relays and fuses not sure whats up i found that theres no power at the plug that goes to the starter and i turn key and nothing...thanks

sure, thanks for watching!

Thanks bro am humbled well explained

Here's another way turn your lights on then turn the key to the start position if the lights go dim starter is drawing voltage if they stay bright starter is not drawing voltage. Much easier & you dont need a volt meter but that just narrows it down if they don't dim it's one of 3 possible things.

cool bro, very helpful. think my problem is my ignition switch. thanx

A nice easily understood video. Good Job.

2005 Hemi; This truck has over the past 6 months had moments of (turn key no response). Each time crawled under with a cpl taps on starter and she fires right up. It happened twice yesterday. The truck has also issues with the wiper/delay/turn handle. I gathered from many it was common and I replaced with new. It worked for a day and resorted to same spiratic operation. I checked fuses. Sometimes it works fine though most not. On delay it might cycle 2/4 times. Could both be related to a ground issue as the truck has rust from Cab down like it has been run thru the salt water half of its 127 tho miles.

the small wire by the positive wire at the starter does it connect at the battery terminal the one for the ignition switch good vedios

Thanks for the video; very helpful.Can you use a schumacher battery charger instead of the car battery to troubleshoot?

I dropped new engine in 2008 wrangler; I have everything buttoned up and tripple checking connections. As soon as I connect battery it wants to starts without key. I have to remove battery wire for it to stop. I've tried the key in and out Turing it in all positions. Tried the brake and gas maybe to get the computer to respond. Lastly, I replaced the actual starter. Same problem. Followed the igition wire and it looks fine; no short.

I took out my starter assuming it was the issue, tested it and it worked. Put it back in And it didn't work. This was 20 years ago so I might not have tested everything how you showed. My buddy was a mechanic and said you can't test your starter unless it's connected to the car and under load. I figured the comments would be littered with yt mechanics saying this but there's none I've seen. I know you took it out for demonstration purposes but could you test a disconnected starter or does it need to be under load

Great video man. I have a 95 Mustang 5.0. And I just hear a click and no turning over just a click. Battery is good. Changed the starter as still 1 click. Checked the neutral safely switch and its good too. I can hear my fuel pump prime so I know it’s not a problem. New spark plugs. New cap & rotor. I can’t seem to find the problem

i just got a new starter from the junk yard ''not exactly brand new'' but it worked when i put it in the next day i noticed that the positive terminal was really hot when i would have the car running and later on that day when i turned it back on the starter gear stayed extended and i could hear it clanking just went out to turn it on once more and now it wont start at all, somethings telling me its the switch mainly because of the terminal getting hot but im not to sure

Omg you helped me so much, thank you! Awesome video, not like the boring stuff. :)

need help, 2001 corvette. i have to hold the key in the start position for 5-10 seconds. it's like a signal delay of some kind. doesn't try to crank during that time. starts right up after holding the key in start position.

Hey thanks so much for this video!! Made it so much easier to find my non-crank problem on my 90 jeep cherokee. +BleepinJeep

What if you cross the power lead and the ignition lead and the shaft kicks out but does not spin Is and everything else you demonstrated happens

excellent video. to the point thorough and informative. thanks for the help

thanks man. that makes it simple.

on the constant wire, does it have a fuse ?? will it hurt to run a new wire, or cut & splice it to where it will stay hot ??

I have a 1997 acura cl and when I go to start my car sometimes I will get just one click and then sometimes it will start normally auto zone told me it was my battery but I'm not sure any help !! Thanks

I have a 1992 jeep wrangler and my ignition seems to be out. do you know if the ignition have a fuse ? and what may I have to replace if the ignition is bad ?

Good video. Starter issues are a pain in the ass. Will a faulty starter cause your power windows not to work?

You were clear and simple, thank you.

Good stuff; thanks. If you have 12 Volts from the ignition switch, but nothing happens (no sound or click), isn’t the solenoid to blame?

Whats the recommended gauge for the different wires going to the starter?

nothing on the neutral safety switch or ignition switch test

Best videos for XJs , thanks

do you have a video that test neutral safety switch???

Can you demonstrate the "click" noise you can hear if the starter is going bad?

From all these comments from BJ, it looks like he's the one who needs the answers.

So I'm only getting about 7 volts at the starter when cranking, wire issue somewhere? Lots of clicks.. Battery seems ok at 12.4-12.5v, just replaced the starter for no reason apparently..

What are the other tools that you used? Does that multimeter have an audible setting?

Okay. So mine spins but it seems weak. Would you have a idea on what would cause that? Battery is charged all the way. Does that mean it's bad?

so i have a 76 camaro and it would not start i put a new starter in new battery both battery cables are new and all fuse are good still the starter solenoid does not do anything would that mean i have a bad ignition switch or is there something i need to check

Very informative, thanks for explaining it for me.

Could use help! I drive my car for a bit (starts up perfectly) and get home, shut car off, and try to re-start it and it won't start....but then it will start up 5 or so minutes later. any assistance on this? It is def not the battery as I just replaced the battery a couple weeks back.

Good video matt. I need to bleep my jeep.

most helpful. very elaborate

Yes ,easy simple explanation, Thanks !