Basic Starting System

Summary

This video delves into the intricacies of a car's starting system, detailing its components like the battery, ignition switch, neutral safety switch, starter relay, and battery cables. It explains the role of the starter motor, which is a powerful electric motor that initiates engine rotation, enabling the spark and fuel injection systems to operate. The video also covers the working principles behind the starting system, including the functions of the ignition switch, the importance of the neutral safety switch, and how the starter relay manages high electrical current. Additionally, it discusses the starter motor's operation, including the use of an overrunning clutch to prevent damage once the engine starts.

Takeaways

• 🔋 The starting system's primary components include the battery, ignition switch, neutral safety switch, starter relay, battery cables, and starter motor.
• ⚙️ The starter motor is a powerful electric motor designed to rotate the engine, initiating the spark and fuel injection systems to start the engine.
• 🔌 The automotive battery, typically a lead-acid storage battery, supplies the necessary current to the starter motor and other electrical systems in the vehicle.
• 🔑 The ignition switch has multiple positions, including lock, accessory, run, and start, each controlling the flow of electrical current to different parts of the vehicle.
• 🛑 The neutral safety switch prevents the starter from engaging if the transmission is not in neutral or park, ensuring safety during starting.
• 🔄 The starter relay is used to control a large amount of current with a small electrical signal, protecting the ignition switch from the high currents required to start the engine.
• 🔌 Battery cables are large, multi-stranded wires that carry the high current from the battery to the starter motor.
• 🏎️ The starter motor's pinion gear meshes with the engine's flywheel gear to turn the engine over, initiating combustion once the engine speed increases.
• ⚙️ The Bendix gear in the starter motor disengages the pinion from the flywheel gear once the engine starts to prevent damage from over-speeding.
• 🔧 There are two types of starter systems discussed: inertia and pre-engaged, each with its method of engaging and disengaging the starter motor's pinion gear.

Q & A

What is the primary function of the starter motor in a vehicle's starting system?

The starter motor is an electric motor that rotates the engine to allow the spark and fuel injection systems to initiate the engine's operation under its own power.

Where is the starter motor typically mounted in a vehicle?

The starter is generally mounted to the bottom, typically to one side of the vehicle's transmission bell housing, where it connects to the engine itself.

What is the role of the automotive battery in the starting system?

The automotive battery supplies current to the starter motor, provides current to the ignition system while cranking, supplies additional current when demand exceeds the alternator's supply, and acts as an electrical reservoir.

How does the ignition switch distribute electrical current in a vehicle?

The ignition switch allows the driver to distribute electrical current to where it is needed, with five key positions: lock, off, accessory, run, and start.

What is the purpose of the neutral safety switch in the starting system?

The neutral safety switch opens to deny current to the starter circuit when the transmission is in any gear but neutral or Park, ensuring the starter will not engage unless the vehicle is in park or the clutch pedal is depressed.

How does a starter relay help in controlling the large amount of current needed to start an engine?

A starter relay allows a small amount of electrical current to control a large amount of current. It is installed in series between the battery and the starter to manage the high current required to start the engine without overloading the ignition switch and wiring.

What are the functions of battery cables in the starting system?

Battery cables are large diameter, multi-stranded wires that carry the high current necessary to operate the starter motor. They connect the battery to the starter, ensuring the flow of current required to start the engine.

How does the starter motor engage with the engine to start it?

The starter motor has a small gear pinion attached to its end. When activated, this gear meshes with a larger gear ring attached to the engine, spinning the engine over so that the piston can draw in a fuel/air mixture to start the engine.

What is the purpose of the Bendix gear in the starter motor?

The Bendix gear is a device that engages the starter motor's pinion with the gear ring on the flywheel only while the starter is turning the engine. It disengages as soon as the engine picks up speed, preventing the starter motor from being damaged by overspeeding.

How does the starter motor prevent damage from overspeeding once the engine starts?

The starter motor is equipped with a freewheel clutch, similar to a bicycle's freewheel, which disengages the starter gear from the engine gear once the engine starts and begins to spin faster than the starter motor.

Outlines

00:00

🔋 Starting System Components and Their Functions

The first paragraph introduces the topic of the starting system in vehicles, detailing its components and their roles. It explains the function of the starter motor, which is an electric motor that engages with the engine's flywheel to initiate the engine's operation. The paragraph also describes the automotive battery, which is a lead-acid storage battery providing current to the starter motor and other systems. Additionally, it covers the ignition switch with its various positions, the neutral safety switch that prevents the starter from engaging unless the vehicle is in neutral or Park, and the starter relay that manages the high current required to start the engine. The battery cables, which are large and designed to carry high current to the starter motor, are also mentioned.

05:01

🔌 Detailed Operation of the Starter Motor and Its Mechanisms

Paragraph two delves deeper into the workings of the starter motor, describing it as a powerful electric motor with a small gear that meshes with a larger gear ring on the engine to spin the engine and initiate combustion. It explains the need for a heavy electric current, which is supplied through thick wires from the battery. The paragraph also discusses the use of a solenoid to handle the high current and the role of the starter switch, which is operated by the ignition key. The text further elaborates on the two types of starter disengagement mechanisms: the inertia system, which relies on the starter's resistance to turn, and the pre-engaged system, which uses a solenoid to engage the pinion gear. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of the freewheel clutch that disengages the starter motor once the engine starts.

10:01

📺 Conclusion and Call to Action

The final paragraph serves as a conclusion to the video script, inviting viewers to engage with the content by liking, commenting, and subscribing. It encourages viewers to continue their interest in automotive systems and to stay connected for more informative content.

Keywords

💡Starting System

The starting system is a critical component of a vehicle's ignition process, responsible for initiating the engine's operation. It consists of several parts including the battery, ignition switch, starter motor, and more. In the video, the starting system is discussed in the context of its components and their functions, such as the starter motor which is an electric motor that rotates the engine to allow the spark and fuel injection systems to begin the engine's operation.

💡Battery

The automotive battery, also known as a lead-acid storage battery, is an electrochemical device that produces voltage and delivers current. It's essential for supplying current to the starter motor and other systems in the car. The video mentions that the battery can be recharged, providing many years of service, and is a key part of the starting system, highlighting its role in delivering the necessary power to initiate the engine.

💡Ignition Switch

The ignition switch is a device that allows the driver to control the flow of electrical current to various parts of the vehicle. It has different positions, each serving a specific function, such as the 'lock' position which disengages all power, or the 'start' position which supplies power to the starter motor. The video script explains how the ignition switch is used to distribute electrical current to where it is needed, including the starter motor during the engine start process.

💡Neutral Safety Switch

The neutral safety switch is a safety feature that prevents the car from starting unless the transmission is in neutral or park (in automatic transmissions) or the clutch pedal is depressed (in manual transmissions). The video script discusses how this switch ensures safety by denying current to the starter circuit when the transmission is not in the correct position, thus preventing the engine from starting inadvertently.

💡Starter Relay

A starter relay is a device that allows a small electrical current to control a large amount of current. It is used in the starting system to manage the high current required to start the engine. The video explains that without a relay, the ignition switch and wiring would need to be much larger to handle the current directly, making the relay a practical solution for controlling the starter motor's power.

💡Battery Cables

Battery cables are large diameter, multi-stranded wires that carry the high current necessary to operate the starter motor. The video script mentions that these cables are crucial for delivering the heavy current from the battery to the starter motor, and it's important to keep them clean and in good condition to ensure efficient power transfer.

💡Starter Motor

The starter motor is a powerful electric motor with a small gear pinion attached to its end. When activated, it meshes with a larger gear ring attached to the engine, spinning the engine over to initiate combustion. The video script describes the starter motor as a high-speed motor that uses an ignition coil to ramp up its power before engaging, and it includes a device like an overrunning clutch to disengage once the engine starts.

💡Overrunning Clutch

An overrunning clutch, also known as a Bendix drive, is a device in the starter motor that disengages the starter gear from the engine gear once the engine starts to spin faster than the starter motor. The video script explains that this prevents the starter motor from being damaged by over-speeding and ensures that the starter motor only turns as much as necessary to start the engine.

💡Inertia Starter

An inertia starter is a type of starter motor that uses the inertia of its components to engage and disengage the pinion gear with the flywheel. The video script describes how the inertia starter's pinion is not rigidly fixed and moves along the motor shaft due to the inertia, engaging with the flywheel gear to start the engine. Once the engine starts, the spinning action disengages the pinion due to the inertia effect.

💡Pre-engaged Starter

A pre-engaged starter is a type of starter motor that uses a solenoid to engage the pinion gear with the flywheel before the motor starts turning the engine. This type of starter avoids the wear on gear teeth that can occur with an inertia starter due to its more controlled engagement. The video script explains that the pre-engaged starter has a solenoid that slides the pinion along the shaft to engage it, providing a smoother and more reliable starting mechanism.

Highlights

Starting system components include the battery, ignition switch, neutral safety switch, starter relay, battery cables, and starter motor.

The starter motor is an electric motor that rotates the engine to initiate spark and fuel injection systems.

Automotive batteries, also known as lead-acid storage batteries, supply current to the starter motor and other systems.

The ignition switch has five key positions, including lock, accessory, and start, each controlling different electrical circuits.

The neutral safety switch prevents the starter from engaging unless the transmission is in Park or neutral.

A starter relay allows a small electrical current to control a large amount of current, necessary for starting the engine.

Battery cables are large diameter wires that carry high current to the starter motor.

The starter motor has a small gear that meshes with a larger gear ring on the engine's flywheel to turn the engine.

The working principle of the starting system involves turning the engine at a speed to suck in fuel and air into the cylinders.

A solenoid is used in the ignition switch to handle the high current needed to start the engine.

The starter motor has a device called a Bendix gear, which disengages the starter gear from the engine once the engine starts.

Inertia starters rely on the inertia of the pinion to engage with the flywheel gearing, while pre-engaged starters use a solenoid to engage the pinion.

The starter motor is protected from over-speeding by a freewheel clutch, which disengages the pinion when the engine starts.

The overrunning clutch, also known as Bendix drive, automatically disengages the starter gear when the engine starts.

The starter system's efficiency is crucial for the engine's operation, as it ensures the proper engagement and disengagement of the starter motor.

Proper maintenance of the starting system, including clean battery cable terminals and correctly adjusted switches, is essential for reliable engine starts.

The video provides a comprehensive overview of the starting system, including its components, working principles, and maintenance tips.

Transcripts

welcome

our topic for today is about starting

system in this discussion we covered

starting system components of starting

system battery ignition switch neutral

safety switch starter relay battery

cables starter motor working principles

starting system the starter motor is an

electric motor that rotates your engine

in order to allow the spark and fuel

injection systems to begin the engines

operation under its own power

typically the starter is a large

electric motor and stator coil mounted

to the bottom generally to one side of

the vehicle's transmission bell housing

where it connects to the engine itself

the starter has gears which mesh with a

large flywheel gear on the back side of

the engine which turns the central

crankshaft because this is a lot of

physical weight and friction to overcome

starter motors are generally powerful

high speed motors and use an ignition

coil to ramp up their power before

engaging components of starting system

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 there by

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

electric or reservoir

ignition switch the ignition switch

allows the driver to distribute

electrical current to where it is needed

there are generally five key switch

positions that are used one lock all

circuits are open no currents applied

and the steering wheel is in the lock

position in some cars the transmission

lever cannot be moved in this position

if the steering wheel is applying

pressure to the locking mechanism the

key might be hard to turn if you do

experience this type of condition try

moving the steering wheel to remove the

pressure as you turn the key to off all

circuits are open but the steering wheel

can be turned in the key cannot be

extracted 3 run all circuits except the

starter circuit are closed current is

allowed to pass through current is

supplied to all but the starter circuit

for start power is supplied to the

ignition circuit and the starter motor

only that is why the radio stops playing

in the start position this position of

the ignition switch is spring-loaded so

that the starter is not engaged while

the engine is running this position is

used momentarily just to activate the

starter 5 accessory power is supplied to

all but 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 but neutral or Park on

automatic transmissions this switch is

normally connected to the transmission

linkage or directly on the transmission

most cars utilize the same switch to

apply current to the backup lights when

the transmission is put in reverse

standard transmission cars will connect

this switch to the clutch pedal so that

the starter will not engage unless the

clutch pedal is depressed if you find

that you have to move the shifter away

from park or neutral to get the car to

start it usually means that the switch

needs adjustment if your car has an

automatic parking brake release the

safety switch will control that function

also started 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 plus 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 the starter solenoid in some

cases also mechanically engages the

starter gear with the engine battery

cables battery cables are large diameter

multi-stranded wire which carry the high

current to 50 plus 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 in tight battery cables can be

replaced with ones that are slightly

larger but never smaller starter motor

the starter motor is a powerful electric

motor with a small gear pinion attached

to the end when activated the gare 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 over running clutch Bendix drive

automatically disengages the starter

gear from the engine gear working

principles to make an engine start it

must be turned at some speed so that it

sucks fuel and air into the cylinders

and compresses it the powerful electric

starter motor Dizz the turning

it's shaft carries a small pinion gear

wheel which engages with a large gear

ring around the rim of the engine

flywheel in a front-engine layout the

starter is mounted low down near the

back of the engine the starter needs a

heavy electric current which it draws

through thick wires from the battery no

ordinary hand operated switch could

switch it on it needs a large switch to

handle the high current the switch has

to be turned on and off very quickly to

avoid dangerous damaging sparking so a

solenoid is used an arrangement where a

small switch turns on an electromagnet

to complete the circuit the starter

switch is usually worked by the ignition

key turn the key beyond the ignition on

position to feed current to the solenoid

the ignition switch has a return spring

so that as soon as you release the key

it springs back and turns the starter

switch off when the switch feeds current

to the solenoid the electromagnet

attracts an iron rod the movement of the

rod closes two heavy contacts completing

the circuit from the battery to the

starter the rod also has a return spring

when the ignition switch stops feeding

current to the solenoid the contacts

open in the starter motor stops the

return Springs are needed because the

starter motor must not turn more than it

has to in order to start the engine the

reason is partly that the starter uses a

lot of electricity which quickly runs

down the battery also if the engine

starts in the starter motor stays

engaged the engine will spin the starter

so fast that it may be badly damaged the

starter motor itself has a device called

a Bendix gear which engages its pinion

with the gear ring on the flywheel only

while the starter is turning the engine

it disengages as soon as the engine

picks up speed and there are two ways by

which it does so the inertia system and

the pre engaged system the inertia

starter relies on the inertia an opinion

that is its reluctance to begin to turn

the pinion is not fixed rigidly to the

motor shaft it is threaded onto it like

a freely turning nut on a very coarse

thread bolt

imagine that you suddenly spend the bulb

the inertia of the nut keeps it from

turning at once so it shifts along the

thread of the bolt when an inertia

starter spins the pinion moves along the

thread of the motor shaft and engages

with the flywheel gearing it then

reaches a stop at the end of the thread

begins to turn with the shaft and so

turns the engine once the engine starts

it spins the pinion faster than its own

starter motor shaft the spinning action

screws the pinion back down it's thread

and out of engagement the pinion

returned so violently that there has to

be a strong spring on the shaft to

cushion its impact the violent

engagement and disengagement of an

inertia starter can cause heavy wear on

the gear teeth to overcome that problem

the pre-engaged starter was introduced

which has a solenoid mounted on the

motor there's more to a car starter

system as well as switching on the motor

the solenoid also slides the pinion

along the shaft to engage it the chef

has straight splines rather than a bent

extrait so that the pinion always turns

with it the pinion is brought into

contact with the toothed drink on the

flywheel by a sliding fork the fork is

moved by a solenoid which has two sets

of contacts that close one after the

other

the first contact supplies a low current

to the motor so that it turns slowly

just far enough to let the pinion teeth

engage then the second contacts closed

feeding the motor a high current to turn

the engine the starter motor is saved

from over speeding when the engine

starts by means of a freewheel clutch

like the freewheel of the bicycle the

return spring of the solenoid withdraws

the pinion from engagement

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