Starter Service in Metairie, LA

What’s a Starter?

Your starter is a small, battery-powered motor within the engine that gets the vehicle’s engine powered up. A starter relay lies between the battery and the starter motor to transmit power. If your starter relay or your starter itself is not working properly, the engine won’t power up and your vehicle won’t go anywhere.

Signs of Starter Issues

While a professional diagnosis is the best way to know if the starter is the culprit to your problems, some signs can give you an indication that it’s the issue.

• It may begin with just sounding off. A clue about a starter problem can be a clicking sound when you turn the key or press the starter button, but it doesn’t always make a noise when there’s a problem.
• Maybe your lights come on but no power. If your dashboard lights come on, but nothing happens, it can indicate a starter issue.
• Maybe you attempt a jump start and your engine doesn’t rev up. If your engine won’t crank that could also be because of a failed starter.
• Your vehicle has an electrical system which can mean blown fuses and short circuits. When you keep trying to start your car, it can cause your starter to overheat and create an electrical problem. If you see smoke coming from the car, it can be a sign of a bad starter.
• You can also raise the hood of your vehicle and look beneath the hood. On a rear-wheel drive vehicle, you’ll usually find the starter on the passenger side beneath the exhaust manifold. If your vehicle is a front-wheel drive, look for your starter on the driver’s side above the transmission or below the exhaust manifold, but it can also be found below the intake manifold on some vehicles. If your starter is soaked in oil, your starter problem may be because of an oil leak.

If you have noticed any of these signs or symptoms, contact us at Premier Nissan of Metairie and set up an appointment with our Service Center, or you can also set your appointment up online. Bring your vehicle in and we’ll diagnose the problem. We offer a convenient waiting area where you can relax with complimentary Wi-Fi while we figure out what’s going on with your vehicle. If you can’t get the engine to start, you may need to have it towed to our Service Center.