The Starting System

• The "starting system", the heart of the electrical system

in your car, begins with the Battery.
• The s/m has five imp components
1. Ignition switch
2. Neutral safety switch
3. Starter relay or starter solenoid
4. Battery
5. Starter motor
• The key is inserted into the Ignition Switch and then
turned to the start position.
• A small amount of current then passes through the
Neutral Safety Switch to a Starter Relay or Starter
Selenoid which allows high current to flow through the
Battery Cables to the Starter Motor.
• The starter motor then cranks the engine so that the
piston, moving downward, can create a suction that will
draw a Fuel/Air mixture into the cylinder, where a spark
created by the Ignition System will ignite this mixture.
• If the Compression in the engine is high enough and all
this happens at the right Time, the engine will start.
 Ignition Switch
• The ignition switch allows the driver to distribute electrical
current to where it is needed. There are generally 5 key switch
positions that are used:
• Lock- All circuits are open ( no current supplied) and the
steering wheel is in the lock position..
• Off- All circuits are open, but the steering wheel can be turned
and the key cannot be extracted.
• Run- All circuits, except the starter circuit, are closed (current
is allowed to pass through). Current is supplied to all but not
to the the starter circuit.
• Start- Power is supplied to the ignition circuit and the starter
motor only. That is why the radio stops playing in the start
position.
• Accessory- Power is supplied to all but not to the ignition and
starter circuit. This allows you to play the radio, work the
power windows, etc. while the engine is not running.
 Neutral Safety Switch
• This switch opens (denies current to) the
starter circuit when the transmission is in any
gear expect Neutral or Park on automatic
transmissions.
• This switch is normally connected to the
transmission linkage or directly on the
transmission.
• Most cars utilize this same switch to apply
current to the back up lights when the
transmission is put in reverse.
 Starter Relay
• A relay is a device that allows a small amount of
electrical current to control a large amount of current.
• An automobile starter uses a large amount of current
(250+ amps) to start an engine.
• If we were to allow that much current to go through
the ignition switch, we would not only need a very
large switch, but all the wires would have to be the size
of battery cables (not very practical).
• A starter relay is installed in series between the battery
and the starter. Some cars use a starter solenoid to
accomplish the same purpose of allowing a small
amount of current from the ignition switch to control a
high current flow from the battery to the starter.
 Battery Cables
• Battery cables are large diameter, multistranded
wire which carry the high current (250+ amps)
necessary to operate the starter motor.
• Some have a smaller wire soldered to the
terminal which is used to either operate a smaller
device or to provide an additional ground.
• When the smaller cable burns, this indicates a
high resistance in the heavy cable. Care must be
taken to keep the battery cable ends (terminals)
clean and tight.
 Starter Motor

• The starter motor is a powerful electric motor,

with a small gear (pinion) attached to the end.
• When activated, the gear is meshed with a larger
gear (ring), which is attached to the engine.
• the starter motor then spins the engine over so
that the piston can draw in a fuel/ air mixture,
which is then ignited to start the engine.
• When the engine starts to spin faster than the
starter, a device called an overrunning clutch
(bendix drive) automatically disengages the
starter gear from the engine gear.
 Battery
• The automotive battery, also known as a lead-
acid storage battery, is an electrochemical device
that produces voltage and delivers current.
• In an automotive battery we can reverse the
electrochemical action, thereby recharging the
battery, which will then give us many years of
service.
• The purpose of the battery is to supply current to
the starter motor, provide current to the ignition
system while cranking, to supply additional
current when the demand is higher than the
alternator can supply and to act as an electrical
reservoir.
• The automotive battery requires special handling.
• The electrolyte (water) inside the battery is a mixture
of sulfuric acid and water.
• Sulfuric acid is very corrosive; if it gets on your skin it
should be flushed with water immediately;
• if it gets in your eyes it should be flushed with a mild
solution of baking soda and water immediately and
you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
• Sulfuric acid will eat through clothing, so it is advisable
to wear old clothing when handling batteries.
• It is also advisable to wear goggles and gloves while
servicing the battery.
• When charging, the battery will emit hydrogen gas; it is
therefore extremely important to keep flames and
sparks away from the battery
• Because batteries emit hydrogen gas while charging, the battery
case cannot be completely sealed. Years ago there was a vent cap
for each cell and we had to replenish the cells when the electrolyte
evaporated.
• Today's batteries (maintenance free) have small vents on the side of
the battery; the gases emitted have to go through baffles to escape.
During this process the liquid condenses and drops back to the
bottom of the battery. There's need to replenish or add water to
the battery.
• Today's batteries are rated in cold cranking amps. This represents
the current that the battery can produce for 30 seconds at 0
degrees before the battery voltage drops below 7.2 volts.
• An average battery today will have a CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) of
500. With the many different makes and models of cars available
today, batteries will come in many different sizes, but all sizes come
in many CCAs.
• Make sure you get a battery strong enough to operate properly in
your car. The length of the warranty is not indicative of the strength
of the battery.
• Battery cables are large diameter, multistranded wire
which carry the high current (250+ amps) necessary to
operate the starter motor.
• Some battery cables will have a smaller wire, soldered
to the terminal, which is used to either operate a
smaller device or to provide an additional ground.
• When the smaller cable burns it indicates a high
resistance in the heavy cable.
• Even maintenance free batteries need periodic
inspection and cleaning to insure they stay in good
working order.
• Inspect the battery to see that it is clean and that it is
held securely in its carrier.
• Some corrosion naturally collects around the battery
• Electrolyte condensation contains corrosive sulfuric
acid, which eats away the metal of battery terminals,
cable ends and battery holddown parts.
• To clean away the corrosion, use a mixture of baking
soda and water, and wash all the metal parts around
the battery, being careful not to allow any of the
mixture to get into the battery (batteries with top cell
caps and vents).
• Rinse with water. Remove the battery cables from the
battery (negative cable first), wire brush the inside of
the cable end and the battery post.
• Reinstall the cables (negative end last). Coat all
exposed metal parts( paint or grease can be used) so
that the sulfuric acid cannot get on the metal.AA