Starters & Alternators for Cars and Trucks

Starter Motor for your Car or Light Truck

A starter is an electric motor that turns over or “cranks” the engine to start it.

When you turn your key it allows electricity to flow from the battery to the starter motor and complete the circuit for the first revolution of your engine.

There are two devices which allow the ignition to fire and start the engine, the Starter Motor and the Solenoid. Because automobile manufacturers deemed it more efficient, the solenoid is most commonly attached to the starter. These two devices in conjunction provide a jolt of electricity from your battery to make the engine “turn over.”

If your car tries to start, but can’t quite get the job done, it could possibly be the starter seeing some trouble. There are generally only a few things that can lead to a starter motor misbehaving.

Weak Battery

A weak or undercharged battery cannot provide the starter with enough electricity to turn the engine over. Your car may make a rapid clicking noise, or just never quite get started.

Bad Wiring

In order to take the charge from the battery, basic wiring is required. More than anything else, time and heat can take the worst toll on basic electrical components. Sometimes a simple process of replacing some wiring can be all that’s required.

There are also a few mechanical issues that can arise with a starter motor that would cause it to fail. The flywheel, for example is made up of multiple interlocking “teeth” which moves the crankshaft and pistons. Over time the flywheel can degrade and cause the starter to cease functioning.

The process of troubleshooting a starter motor and solenoid combo can quickly become a tiresome task. Let us take away the stress of figuring out the problem and provide a quality service for your problem. Our technicians are experts at discovering the issue and finding the best long term solution. Plus, we provide towing to the shop for service. If you can’t get your vehicle fired up, give us a ring and we’ll get you back on the road.

Stay In Charge: Maintaining Your Alternator

Let’s start by defining it: What is an alternator?

An alternator is an automotive charging system and is made up of three major components: the battery, the voltage regulator and an alternator. The alternator works with the battery to generate power for the electrical components of a vehicle, like the interior and exterior lights, and the instrument panel. An alternator gets its name from the term alternating current (AC).

If you’ve noticed your car acting up lately, or it’s time for one of your regularly scheduled maintenance services, bring your car to Service Garage. Do you hear strange sounds like knocking or grinding? Have you begun to notice fluids leaking underneath your car? Is it time for your inspection or tune up?

A bad alternator could also be the cause of your dead battery.

If you’re having to constantly jump your battery, or if you just replaced it with a new battery that still doesn’t seem to hold a charge, there’s a good chance that the real problem is with your alternator.

While you’re driving your car, the alternator provides electricity to various components like your dashboard lights and air conditioner. Any extra power it creates gets stored in the car’s battery for later use. If your alternator isn’t charging your battery, then the next time you go to start your car, you have to deal with the frustration of a dead battery.

This is often misdiagnosed as a bad battery, especially if it’s an older battery, but you can save time and further hassle by having your car serviced correctly by our trained mechanics. Bring your car or truck to our auto repair shop for alternator replacement that you can trust.

We’ve long been the choice for starter and alternator replacements, so whatever you need, come see us at Service Garage today!

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Service Garage 920-380-1030

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Service Garage - 2225 West Nordale Drive Appleton, Wisconsin 54914
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We proudly provide auto repair service to car and light truck owners in Appleton, Wisconsin and surrounding communities:

Neenah | Menasha | Kimberly | Kaukauka | Little Chute | Wrightstown | Green Bay | Oshkosh | Fond Du Lac | Seymour | Freedom | Combine Locks | Greenville | Hortonville | New London | Freemont | Grand Chute