The starter solenoid relay plays a significant role in the successful starting of the engine. When it fails, the starter will not engage and the engine will not start. However, there is an old proven method...
If, when you try to start the engine, the starter does not turn on and it is already known that the reason is in the solenoid relay, you can use the starter directly. To understand the meaning of this method, you need to briefly learn the principle of its connection.
The starter motor turns on when the armature of the retractor relay moves and closes the contacts of the power circuit. In turn, the solenoid relay biases the armature when voltage is applied from the ignition switch. If for some reason the retractor cannot close the contacts of the starter motor, then this can be done manually.
The most important rules when turning on the starter directly:
— The car must be in neutral gear
and be locked
with the parking brake
- The ignition must be on
of sufficient length and cross-section must be used as a jumper
If all these rules are met and there is free access to the starter, then you can start turning it on. Traditionally, a thick screwdriver is used as a jumper. The point of the method is to close the contacts of the power line on the solenoid relay. This must be done carefully so as not to touch the starter housing or any other metal part with the screwdriver, otherwise a short circuit will occur.
If you precisely close two power contacts on the retractor relay with a screwdriver, then this will be equivalent to closing the same contacts from inside the relay with its armature. That is, we simulate the operation of the retractor and connect the starter motor. It will start working and, if the ignition is turned on, the main engine of the car will start.
It should be taken into account that at the moment the contacts are closed with a screwdriver, a certain number of sparks will most likely occur, so this starting method requires good endurance. Another drawback is that not every car allows you to get close enough to the starter to close the contacts on the solenoid relay.
After the car engine starts, the screwdriver must be removed from the contacts and the starter will turn off.
We close the starter directly with a screwdriver (video inside)
The purpose of writing this text is to warn car owners against one common mistake. When the key is turned to the START/KRANK mark, the starter does not turn, and then they try to close the power terminals directly. Having opened the hood and reached the starter, they see two copper taps - they are closed. In this case, the electric motor is activated, but the solenoid relay is not activated, and the freewheel bearing remains in place. In reality, power taps cannot be shorted! We will talk further about how to properly close the starter with a screwdriver.
Battery
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The battery charge may be so low that the battery is unable to crank the starter directly. Naturally, this is not related to mechanical failure of the starter; the whole difficulty lies in the battery itself.
In order not to find yourself in a false situation, before checking the starter or disassembling it, you should properly test the battery. If it has been used for a long time, then this is another reason for a thorough check, because over time, the acid inside evaporates and the electrolytes no longer cope with their functions.
Thus, if the battery is discharged, it should be recharged, and if it does not hold a charge, then replace it with a new one.
It is extremely important to monitor the density of acid batteries. Testing this parameter is one of the mandatory stages of the maintenance process, which also involves diagnosing the acid level and measuring current.
You should know that in classic batteries the density is shown in g/cm3.
The technical condition of the battery is easy to determine, taking into account the criteria for electrolyte density. So, if the battery does not hold a charge, then you need to test the quality and level of acid in each section.
The test is carried out with a special device at plus 25 degrees Celsius. If the values differ from the standard ones, corrections are made to the readings, as indicated in the table below.
| Temperature of the electrolyte when measuring its density, ◦C | Correction to the hydrometer reading, g/cm3 |
| from -55 to -41 | -0.05 |
| from -40 to -26 | -0.04 |
| from -25 to -11 | -0.03 |
| from -10 to 4 | -0.02 |
| from 5 to 19 | -0.01 |
| from 20 to 30 | |
| from 31 to 45 | 0.01 |
| from 46 to 60 | 0.02 |
In the battery, the density should be maintained close to optimal values. It is important to know that the required parameters are accordingly determined by the geographical area in which the battery is operated. Taking into account the totality of all rules for care and operating conditions, the density of the battery must be established.
More details about this in the table below.
| Climatic zone (with average temperature in January, ◦С) | Electrolyte density | |
| Poured | In a fully charged battery | |
| Far North (from -50 to -30) | 1.27 | 1.29 |
| Northern zone (-30 to -15) | 1.26 | 1.28 |
| Central zone (-15 to -4) | 1.24 | 1.26 |
| South zone (-15 to 4) | 1.22 | 1.24 |
| Tropical zone (from 4 to 6) | 1.2 | 1.22 |
Scheme, theory and practice
Let's see what the wiring diagram of any electric starter looks like. Contact B is constantly supplied with voltage.
Starter and its external circuits
In the diagram we see three “positive” contacts and one negative (8), which is always connected to the body. What needs to be closed:
- Before closing the starter, locate the S terminal. It is often made in the form of a petal;
- How to distinguish contacts B and M: the first will have a potential of “+12”;
- You need to close contact B with terminal S. This is done briefly and after turning on the “neutral”;
- Contacts M and B cannot be closed.
We move from theory to practice. On a VAZ-2114 car everything looks simple.
Solenoid relay VAZ-2114
Terminal B here is covered with a rubber band, and petal S is in contact with the terminal in plastic. The plastic plug is removed before “shorting”.
Closing the starter contact with a screwdriver
Make sure that the metal of the screwdriver does not touch the relay body when closing. Otherwise, we will simply close the “+” contact to “ground” (dangerous). All work is carried out with the ignition on.
- B – Bold, “thick” wire;
- M – Motor (electric motor);
- S – Start.
Battery connection
This method uses a copper cable, terminals and plug, with this you can connect the starter and battery of the car. If you connect all the parts, you will get a kind of carrier, and it will help start the engine. Then the car is at neutral speed and the ignition is turned on, the homemade carrier is connected to the positive on the battery. If everything is in order with the starter, then the engine will start easily, and then quickly remove the terminal and return the connection to its original place.
We close the starter “in French” (special cases)
Access to the starter is always open from under the bottom - you just need to remove the crankcase protection. An example is in the photo below.
Under the bottom of Renault Megane 2
It is difficult to reach the starter from the engine compartment. In the best case, it is closed by a filter (VAZ), in the worst case, by a battery. You can remove the filter, but what about the battery?
Starter installation location (circle)
Everything is done so that the starter can be changed, repaired, but not short-circuited.
What does terminal S look like?
On Renault cars, the terminal looks like a threaded outlet. The nut screwed onto it is “white”, although it itself is made of copper (see photo).
Starter Renault Logan, phase 1
We have already talked about the VAZ - they use a plug. If you remove it, you can see the “petal”.
The starting method using a screwdriver is not the best. The problem is limited access.
50 Amps
We are going to short-circuit the starter with a screwdriver, but at the connection points where the current will flow, it may “stick”. In this case, without unnecessary panic, remove the negative terminal from the battery.
To remove the minus terminal, you need a 10mm open-end wrench. Keep it with you.
Disadvantages of the method
The main disadvantage of this method of starting the starter is that you can easily burn the ignition coil.
That is why experts recommend carrying out this action only once. But sometimes the engine does not start using this method, so the reason lies much deeper. It is also worth considering that in those places where the screwdriver comes into contact with the terminal, a current of up to 50 A is issued. It can easily become stuck, and it will also kick back into your hand; it can be quickly removed using an open-end wrench.
conclusions
Let's look at diagram 1 again. If the key is not turned to the Start label, terminal S is “hanging in the air.” This can be done for any car, even if the circuit has an additional relay. This means that it will not be necessary to disconnect the standard wire from terminal S... And in the case of a VAZ, the disconnection is carried out in order to gain access to the terminal.
This is interesting: Adapter for diagnosing VAZ cars
We removed the filter, disconnected the plug, and tried to close it...
If the engine filter cannot be removed or access is blocked by the battery, we do it differently - we use only the crank.
It is better to close the contacts not with a screwdriver, but with any wrench (see photo). It is desirable that the handle be insulated.
12 Volt voltage is not dangerous, but errors can result in blown fuses. Good luck.
For those who do not understand everything: the filter must be removed from the mounts, but not from the “corrugation”. The filter housing is placed on the battery.
Starting an engine without a starter with an automatic transmission using a compressor pulley drive
This method is not suitable for all cars, but only for those where open access to the compressor drive unit is possible. To start, you will need a strong rope with a diameter of 5-7 mm and a strong round stick about one meter in size (you can use a simple shovel handle). The essence of the start is the transmission of torque from the air conditioning compressor pulley to the crankshaft flywheel.
- The standard drive belt on the compressor pulley is removed.
- One end of the rope is wound around the crankshaft flywheel.
- The second end is through a prepared stick, which is mounted horizontally on the engine, onto the compressor pulley.
- Turn on the ignition simultaneously with the air conditioning.
The power of the switched on compressor is usually enough to crank the engine crankshaft and trigger sparking.
Often the cause of a starter failure can be diagnosed on site and the problem can be repaired. The most common malfunction in the operation of its electrical circuit is oxidation of the contacts on the battery terminals and the armature power terminals.
As a result of oxidation, the voltage in the circuit drops and the starter does not have enough power to turn the crankshaft flywheel. To eliminate this cause, it is necessary to clean the contacts with fine-grained sandpaper, removing oxides, and treat them with an anti-corrosion compound. If these measures do not lead to normal operation of the starter, then more serious diagnostics are required.
We close the VAZ-2110 starter directly
VAZ-2110 owners often ask themselves the question: how to close the starter? This can happen at any time for various reasons. It is often necessary to close the starter when the driver cannot start the car from inside the car using the key. In this case, you will need outside help to start the car, or simply close the starter.
To correctly perform this procedure, every driver must know how it is carried out. It is worth immediately noting that this method of starting the engine will not be effective in some cases . Before you carry it out, you need to accurately determine the reasons why the engine does not start.
What to do if the lost key was electronic
The use of chip keys significantly increases the security of a car - it is very difficult to steal it.
Control over the opening and closing of doors in this situation is assigned to a special system called an immobilizer. Its circuit includes a transmitting node and an antenna. Using the latter devices, communication occurs with the key - it sends an unlock code, and if it matches what is stored in the immobilizer memory, then the door opens (or the engine starts). The loss of such a highly functional key forces you to contact the organization that produces them. You shouldn’t even consider any other options here - you’ll only waste time. At best, you will be able to get into the cabin, but what is the use of this when the engine cannot be started?
To order a new key, you will need to bring title documents to the company confirming that the car is indeed your property.
The cost of the service ranges from 800 to 2,000 rubles.
What is needed to close the starter on a VAZ-2110?
To close the starter you will need the following tool:
All these elements must be such that we can reach the starter contacts.
It is also important to ensure that the current does not strike a person when closing the contacts. To do this, you can wear rubber gloves or wrap the end of a metal object with electrical tape.
Process
The process goes like this:
- The car is put in neutral gear.
Raise the hood, remove the air filter from its mountings and move it to the side.
Raise the handbrake, put the gearshift lever in the “neutral” position and turn on the ignition.
We do not recommend doing this due to the health risks of this method. Also, due to inept actions, it is possible to burn the entire starter and wiring.
How to get into the salon if the door key is also lost
For the first method, you will need about half a meter of thin steel (1-2 millimeters) wire. Make a rounded hook at one end of the segment and bend it at the other so that the improvised tool does not accidentally fall into the empty space of the door. Next, do this:
If you have a metal ruler, that will also work (we don’t recommend using a plastic one - it will most likely break). First of all, remove the seal. Now insert the plate strictly into the center of the glass - it should ideally rest against the lock rod. Press the door harder - lean on it to make it easier for the tongue to come out of the groove. Press down on the rod and, as soon as you hear a click, pull the handle towards you.
When there is neither wire nor a ruler, then use the following method - take a piece of twine or, for example, a lace from a shoe. Keep in mind that this option is only suitable when the locking buttons on the machine are mushroom-shaped.
At the end of the rope, make a tightening loop with a diameter of 4-5 centimeters. After that:
Most likely, the first attempts will fail, but sooner or later everything will work out and the machine will open.
The disadvantage of the latter method is that you will have to repair the damaged door.
Starter breakdowns
Starting the engine with a metal object is only possible if the starter itself does not work.
Starter device for VAZ-2110.
If there is no voltage coming to it, then the reason is different, and in this way it will not be possible to start the engine . Therefore, it is first necessary to find out the reason why the starter does not turn the crankshaft.
But often, when the car does not start with the key, the reason is precisely in the starter. It may have various malfunctions. The main ones are:
- Relay is faulty.
- The winding burned out.
- The contacts have oxidized.
- The bendix is worn out.
We are trying to make a “friend” without his “atrium”
Initially, it would be good to try to find out the reasons for the failure of the starter - what if you are lucky and the problems associated with its failure can be eliminated yourself.
The most common breakdowns are the following:
- Starter relay failure.
- The solenoid relay does not operate fully.
- Severe wear on the teeth of the Bendix gear, namely, the gear rotates, but does not engage with the teeth of the engine flywheel ring.
- The stator winding in the starter burned out.
So, let’s start the “heart” of the car.
Method 1
, or how to start a car from a push, or “from a pusher”?
Everything is quite simple, but at the same time very reliable.
Its essence is that the driver needs to find at least a couple of people, let them be, for example, neighbors in a garage cooperative who sympathize with him. And they don’t need to be of strong build, the main thing here is the number of participants: the more, the better. The entire team (company) rests their hands on the trunk, rear pillars, etc., and begins to push the car, accelerating it. The driver, in turn, sitting behind the wheel, already with the ignition on and, better yet, with third gear engaged, as well as with the clutch depressed, after waiting for the car to accelerate, the clutch is already released. After this, the engine “sneezes” and starts. The higher the acceleration speed, the faster the engine will start. Method 2
It is also effective and popular among drivers. This auto-folk method of starting a car without a starter is called “towing” - this is when your iron friend is pulled by another vehicle on a tow rope until the engine starts.
With this method, it is important to remember that after starting the engine, the car will begin to accelerate and you must immediately depress the clutch and turn off the gear, but, of course, do not turn off the engine!
In addition, do not forget to press the brake so as not to hit the car pulling you in the rear and put your car on the handbrake, and after that you can go and unhook the cable.
Method three
, or we start the engine by simply closing the starter.
In addition to the above options, the engine can be started without “violent” methods. Just need to have at least a little idea of how to close the starter directly?
Often, drivers close the starter using everything that is at hand in the car. This could be a screwdriver, a spatula, a wrench, etc.
This is easily recognized by the characteristic clicks coming from the engine compartment when starting the engine. This sound tells the driver: “Hey, friend, the relay is on, but the Bendix gear is not able to turn the engine crankshaft.” There is only one way out - you bridge the starter, and with this action you apply voltage to the winding.
In this case, you will need a large screwdriver, but you can use any open-end wrench. Any of these items must close the terminals of the solenoid relay and that’s it. But, do not forget, before closing the starter directly, you must:
- The ignition key must be placed in the appropriate position.
- The gear lever must be in neutral.
- The car must be put on the handbrake.
With this method, a screwdriver (wrench) plays the role of a solenoid relay and the engine of your car must start.
Knowing how to drive a VAZ-2114 car can be useful to any car owner. The situation when you stop on the road for 5-10 minutes and can no longer start the car is very unpleasant. ! What to do in such a situation? This is when knowledge of how to “short-circuit” the starter to start the car can come in handy.
How to quickly close the starter with a screwdriver or other means
Many motorists have to deal with problems related to the vehicle starter at least once in their lives. The starter stubbornly refuses to work as before, although it itself is not damaged (the solenoid relay becomes the problem). We will look at what to do in this case and how to revive the starter in our article. There is Murphy’s law, known to all people on earth, as it is also popularly called the law of meanness. The car breaks down at the most inopportune moment, when you urgently need to go somewhere, and time is running out. In this case, there is nothing left to do but close the starter contacts in order to revive this important element of the car.
Recommendations
Systematic starting directly can lead to malfunctions in the vehicle wiring. This type of connection can be used one time. To correctly close a knot directly, you should follow several rules:
- Select a metal product with a large cross-section. This will prevent the part from heating up and causing a burn.
- It is necessary to close the nuts, not the threaded surfaces. Violating this rule will damage the threaded connection.
- When connecting, do not touch other parts. The mass of a vehicle is its body. Connecting pads and other parts will result in a short circuit.
- Turn off the power immediately after starting the power plant. Untimely shutdown will cause the drive gear (Bendix) to break.
Taking into account these recommendations, you will be able to correctly close the electric starter with a screwdriver or other object.
Diagnostics
It is necessary before the motorist wants to take active action. If you can identify the reasons for this behavior of the starter, then they can be eliminated right on the spot, without even going to a car service center and without wasting extra time. The basics of starter repair teach us that the most complex breakdowns are the following:
- The starter relay has failed;
- The solenoid relay has deteriorated;
- The bendix is worn out;
- The starter winding is burnt out.
If at least one of the above breakdowns is confirmed, you have to look for ways to start a car with a non-working starter. They exist, but they are very few. But they will help you cope with the problem 100 percent.
Cases in which the problem can be solved on site
If the starter does not turn, there are several ways to start the car:
- close the starter contacts with a screwdriver;
- Connect the starter directly to the battery.
In an automobile system, the starter has a separate role - to spin the crankshaft to create the required torque and compression ratio for the fuel-air mixture. Naturally, the starter functions in conjunction with other components and electrical systems. Therefore, damage of various properties may occur:
- lack of voltage in the on-board network;
- battery discharge;
- damage to wires;
- problem in the ignition switch;
- mismatch of oil viscosity in the crankcase;
- weakening of contacts.
If the starter does not work, then in most cases the traction relay fails, the coil winding burns out, the bendix slips, or the screw thread drive runs slowly.
Some damage to the starter allows it to operate normally when the engine is running. But he fails to spin the heavy flywheel the first time. In any case, after a successful start, it is necessary to urgently take the starter for professional diagnostics in order to identify the true cause of the malfunction.
Thus, a malfunction of the starter can be caused by:
- faulty start relay;
- Bendix wear;
- problems with the solenoid relay;
- combustion of the internal elements of the unit.
Method two - towing
No less efficient and even more reliable, but you need another machine more powerful than your car. It will be enough to tow the vehicle for a short distance, and then start the engine in the same manner as described above. In this case, I would like to give a couple of practical tips:
- Do not turn off the car after it has started and then go straight to the service center;
- Do not forget that after starting the car, it will pick up speed if it is in second gear and you press the accelerator pedal;
- Don’t forget that after starting, the car towing you will stop. Therefore, you will need to have time to slow down.
The third method is closure
And finally, we come to the actual topic of this article: correctly closing the starter with a screwdriver. In this case, brute physical force or towing is not needed. It will be enough to arm yourself with a simple screwdriver, preferably with a long handle. Before moving directly to the process algorithm, let's dwell on the question: what is better to close the starter - with a screwdriver, wrench or pry bar? Let us note right away that a mount is an option for a rainy day when you don’t have a screwdriver or a key at hand. As a rule, a screwdriver and a wrench help in cases where the relay is faulty. The characteristic clicks coming from under the hood when turning the key in the ignition are full confirmation of this. The Bendix gear is not able to turn the crankshaft because the relay does not provide enough energy. It remains to close the starter, giving voltage directly to the windings. As mentioned above, it is advisable to arm yourself with a large screwdriver or wrench that would reach both power terminals of the relay in order to bridge them. Don’t forget to set the gearbox lever to idle and tighten the handbrake all the way. The key in the ignition switch must be turned half a turn so that the corresponding lights on the instrument panel come on. A screwdriver attached to the terminals in this case works like the relay itself. The method, as we see, is not tricky. But you must always be on your guard. The fact is that you can damage the coil. It easily fails if you do this several times in a row. It’s just that on classic contact systems the coil does not have the appropriate protection, as on non-contact systems. To protect the coil from burning out, it is recommended to do the following:
This is interesting: How do the newly minted ministers live and, in particular, what do they drive?
- Ask the assistant to get into the car;
- Have him put the ignition key in the ignition position while you close the contact.
Thus, having learned how to revive the starter yourself, you can safely go to the longest distances.
The problem will be solved in one minute. But then it will be necessary to visit a car repair shop, where the starter will undergo a thorough diagnosis by specialists. They will immediately determine the cause, eliminate it, and you will no longer fall under Murphy's Law. Although no one can guarantee that this will not happen after a certain period of time.
We are trying to make a “friend” without his “atrium”
Initially, it would be good to try to find out the reasons for the failure of the starter - what if you are lucky and the problems associated with its failure can be eliminated yourself.
The most common breakdowns are the following:
- Starter relay failure.
- The solenoid relay does not operate fully.
- Severe wear on the teeth of the Bendix gear, namely, the gear rotates, but does not engage with the teeth of the engine flywheel ring.
- The stator winding in the starter burned out.
So, let’s start the “heart” of the car.
Method 1, or how to start a car from a push, or “from a pusher”?
Everything is quite simple, but at the same time very reliable. Its essence is that the driver needs to find at least a couple of people, let them be, for example, neighbors in a garage cooperative who sympathize with him. And they don’t need to be of strong build, the main thing here is the number of participants: the more, the better. The entire team (company) rests their hands on the trunk, rear pillars, etc., and begins to push the car, accelerating it. The driver, in turn, sitting behind the wheel, already with the ignition on and, better yet, with third gear engaged, as well as with the clutch depressed, after waiting for the car to accelerate, the clutch is already released. After this, the engine “sneezes” and starts. The higher the acceleration speed, the faster the engine will start.
Method 2 Also effective and popular among drivers. This auto-folk method of starting a car without a starter is called “towing” - this is when your iron friend is pulled by another vehicle on a tow rope until the engine starts.
With this method, it is important to remember that after starting the engine, the car will begin to accelerate and you must immediately depress the clutch and turn off the gear, but, of course, do not turn off the engine!
In addition, do not forget to press the brake so as not to hit the car pulling you in the rear and put your car on the handbrake, and after that you can go and unhook the cable.
Method three, or we start the engine by simply closing the starter.
In addition to the above options, the engine can be started without “violent” methods. Just need to have at least a little idea of how to close the starter directly?
Often, drivers close the starter using everything that is at hand in the car. This could be a screwdriver, a spatula, a wrench, etc.
This is easily recognized by the characteristic clicks coming from the engine compartment when starting the engine. This sound tells the driver: “Hey, friend, the relay is on, but the Bendix gear is not able to turn the engine crankshaft.” There is only one way out - you bridge the starter, and with this action you apply voltage to the winding.
In this case, you will need a large screwdriver, but you can use any open-end wrench. Any of these items must close the terminals of the solenoid relay and that’s it. But, do not forget, before closing the starter directly, you must:
- The ignition key must be placed in the appropriate position.
- The gear lever must be in neutral.
- The car must be put on the handbrake.
With this method, a screwdriver (wrench) plays the role of a solenoid relay and the engine of your car must start.
- Three ways to close the starter directly
- Basic starter failures
- Close the starter from the pushrod
- Towing a car
- Closing with a screwdriver
Many motorists have encountered such a problem as starter failure. It can break at any moment. How to start a car if the starter does not work, but you need to drive? It is possible to start the car in this way by either closing the starter directly or starting without it. But before you do this, you should familiarize yourself with the main breakdowns of the starter and understand all the nuances.
