Without a working starter solenoid you basically cannot turn the engine on. So if yours go bad, you will need to jump the starter solenoid in order to get back on the road.
So how to jump starter solenoid?
You can use a jumper cable and a donor car to jump the starter solenoid by connecting the dead starter to a working battery. Or you may use a screwdriver to contact the starter’s smaller terminal. But before that you must locate the starter solenoid in your vehicle. Generally it is near the starter motor or battery but it may vary.
This just names the processes that can be done in order to jump the starter solenoid. Details regarding the process and where exactly to find the starter inside your car is available in this article!
Compulsory Measures: Locating The Starter Solenoid in DIfferent Vehicles
Before you can try to jump start the solenoid, you must locate it inside your vehicle first.
It’s important to consult the vehicle’s owner’s manual or a repair manual for specific information on the location of the starter solenoid. Because it can vary even within the same make and model of vehicle.
Oftentimes the solenoid is located near the starter motor or the battery. Below we will specify where the solenoid of different vehicles and some specific models is located.
Car models:
So where are starters located in cars?
The starter solenoid is generally found close to the engine bay, often on the starter motor itself. This part is usually situated beneath the gearbox, close to the engine. In some vehicles, it is mounted on the bulkhead, while in others it is near the battery.
| Model | Location |
| Ford Mustang | On the passenger side fender well, near the battery. |
| Chevrolet Camaro | On the starter motor, which is on the passenger side of the engine block, near the transmission. |
| Toyota Corolla | On the startermotor, which is on the front of the engine block, close by to the transmission. |
| Honda Civic 2006-2011 | Integrated into the starter motor, which is located on the passenger side of the engine block. |
| Honda Civic 2012-2015 | Integrated into the starter motor, but it is located on the driver’s side of the engine block. |
| Ford Taurus | On the starter motor, which is on the bottom of the engine |
Tractors:
So where is the starter solenoid located for tractors?
The starter solenoid is often located on the starter motor. It is located close to the transmission on the underside of the engine cylinder. It may also be located in close proximity to the battery, with the inner fender, or with the bulkhead.
| Brand | Location |
| John Deere | Underneath the engineblock, close to the transmission. |
| Kubota | Near the battery, on the inner fender, or on the starter motor. |
Lawnmowers:
Lawnmower starter solenoid location is often close to the battery or with the startermotor. Usually, you can find this down by the engine. It may also be located on the inner fender or on the firewall.
| Brand | Location |
| Craftsman | Close to the battery or the startingmotor, both of which can be found underneath the engine. |
| Honda | On the starter motor, which is on the underside of the engine, or on the inner fender near the battery. |
Motorcycles:
Do motorcycles have starter solenoids?
Yes, motorcycles do have starter solenoids. They are typically installed on or close to the engine or startermotor. It may also be located near the battery, on the inner fender, or on the frame.
| Brand | Location |
| Harley Davidson | On the starter motor, which is on the bottom of the engine. |
| Yamaha | Near the battery, on the inner fender, or on the starter motor |
Methods of Jumping a Starter Solenoid
There are multiple methods of jumping the starter solenoid, even if your everstart jump starter is not working. The following procedures can be used once the starter solenoid has been found.
But before you start, there are some precautions you must ensure.
Precautions:
The process is risky, so there are some things you must keep in mind.
- Always take precautions by wearing safety equipment like goggles and gloves.
- Make sure the lawnmower is in neutral and the parking brake is engaged before attempting to jump the starter solenoid.
- Make sure the battery’s negative connection is unplugged. The purpose of this is to avoid any potential electrical shocks.
- Use a jumper cable or a wire with appropriate insulation and gauge size. This is to avoid electrical shocks or damage to the electrical system.
- Be careful not to touch the jumper cable or wire to any metal surfaces or other electrical components while performing the process.
- Don’t try to jump the starter while plugged in.
Method 1: Using a Jumper Cable
This method is kind of complicated and requires the assistance of another working car. Here is how to jump a starter with a wire.
You can even use a pickup to jump start a semi.
Tools Needed:
- Jumper cables
- Donor car that has a charged battery
- Recipient car with a dead battery
- Safety gear
Process:
Step 1: Park the donor car with its engine running facing the recipient car. Make sure the ignitions are off in both cars and that they are at least a few feet apart.
In this context, the donor car refers to the car with a fully charged battery that is providing the jump-start. The recipient car refers to the car with a dead battery that is being jump-started.
Step 2: Open the hood of both cars and locate the batteries. Locate the negative (-) and positive (+) terminals on both batteries.
Step 3: Connect the donor car’s positive (+) lead to one end of the red jumper wire.
Step 4: Attach the positive (+) lead of the recipient vehicle battery to the other end of the red jumper wire.
Step 5: Attach the negative (-) lead of the jumper wire to the donor car’s battery.
Step 6: Attach the other end of the black jumper wire to a grounding post or frame rail on the vehicle’s underside. Ensure that it is far from the battery and gasoline system.
Step 7: Make sure the wires aren’t contacting any working components of the motor and that all links are tight.
Step 8: Turn on the motor of the vehicle to be used as a donation and let it run at a slow rest for a few minutes.
Step 9: Attempt to start the recipient’s car engine. If it starts, let it run for a few minutes before disconnecting the jumper cables. If it won’t turn on after a few minutes, give it some more time.
Step 10: Once the recipient car engine starts, disconnect the jumper cables in reverse order of the way they were connected, starting with the black cable from the recipient car, then the black cable from the donor car, followed by the red cable from the donor car, and lastly the red cable from the recipient car.
Step 11: Keep both cars running for a few minutes to allow the battery of the recipient car to charge. Then turn off both cars and close their hoods.
Method 2: Using a Screwdriver
This method is easier compared to the previous one. So here is how to jumpstart a starter with a screwdriver.
Tools Needed:
- Screwdriver
- Wrench
Process:
Step 1: Make sure the car is off, in park or neutral, and that the parking stop is on. Find the starter solenoid. You can find the placement instructions earlier.
Step 2: Disconnect the positive end of the battery wire using a screwdriver.
Step 3: Take the screwdriver with a rubber handle. Then touch the metal shaft of the screwdriver to the positive (battery) terminal of the solenoid.
Step 4: Use the screwdriver’s opposite edge. Then touch it to the small terminal where the starter wire is connected to the solenoid.
Step 5: When you touch the screwdriver to the small terminal, it will cause the solenoid to engage the starter motor and turn the engine over.
Step 6: Once the engine starts, remove the screwdriver from the solenoid and replace the battery cable on the positive terminal of the battery.
Step 7: Stop the vehicle and remove the wire from the battery’s positive end.
Method 3: For Motorcycle
Here is how to fix a motorcycle starter solenoid.
Tools Needed:
- 2 Jumper Cables
Process:
Step 1: Locate the starter solenoid on your motorcycle based on our earlier discussions.
Step 2: Connect the positive end of the battery to the positive end of the starter solenoid using a patch cable or an extended piece of wire. You can identify the positive terminal of the solenoid by looking for the wire that runs from the solenoid to the starter motor.
Step 3: Using another jumper cable or wire, touch the small terminal of the solenoid with the positive terminal of the battery. This terminal is usually labeled with an “S” or a “+”.
Step 4: If the solenoid is working properly, you should hear a clicking sound and the starter motor should turn over. If the solenoid does not click, it could be defective and could require replacement.
Step 5: Once the motorcycle has started, remove the jumper cables or wires in reverse order. First, disconnect the wire from the small terminal of the solenoid and then disconnect the positive cable from the solenoid.
Method 4: For Lawnmower
Here is how to jump starter solenoid on lawn mower.
Tools Needed:
- Pliers
- Jumper Cable
Process:
Step 1: Locate the starter solenoid on your lawn mower based on the previously provided information.
Step 2: Separate the battery’s positive wire using a pair of pliers or a wrench.
Step 3: Using a jumper cable or a piece of wire, connect one end to the positive terminal of the battery.
Step 4: Touch the other end of the jumper cable or wire to the terminal on the solenoid where the battery cable was connected. This is usually the larger of the two terminals on the solenoid.
Step 5: If the solenoid is working properly, you should hear a clicking sound and the starter motor should turn over. If the solenoid does not click, it could be defective and could require replacement.
Step 6: Once the lawnmower has started, remove the jumper cable or wire from the solenoid terminal and reconnect the positive cable to the battery.
How to Check If Starter Solenoid Is Getting Enough Energy
The process requires you to have some previous mechanical knowledge. So here is how do you test a starter solenoid with a voltmeter.
Tools Needed:
- Voltmeter
- Safety gear
- Battery charger
Process:
Step 1: Ensure the battery is fully charged and the car’s electrical system is working properly.
Step 2: Turn off the engine and disconnect the battery to prevent accidental electrical shock.
Step 3: Locate the starter solenoid. We already discussed where to find the starter solenoid of each vehicle.
Step 4: Use a voltmeter to test the voltage at the starter solenoid by placing the voltmeter’s red probe on the positive terminal of the solenoid and the black probe on nearby ground.
Step 5: Move the switch to the “start” spot and check the voltmeter reading. If the reading is less than 9.6 volts, this may indicate that the solenoid is not receiving enough energy to function properly.
Step 6: Check the battery cables and connections for corrosion, damage, or looseness that may be interfering with the flow of electricity.
Step 7: If the cables and connections are in good condition, we suggest consulting a professional mechanic to further diagnose.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Is a solenoid positive or negative?
An activated solenoid has positive and negative poles that will attract or repel material sensitive to magnets. This functions similarly to the magnetic field of any activated magnet.
Are solenoids AC or DC?
Solenoids can be powered by either AC or DC energy. But DC solenoids are better than AC ones because they don’t experience the initial high currents that can damage coils through burning and repeating.
What voltage is a solenoid?
Solenoid valves are available in a variety of DC and AC voltages. The common DC voltages are 6, 12, 24, 120, and 240 volts. The common AC voltages at 60 Hz are 24, 120, 240, and 480 volts. The common AC voltages for 50 Hz are 110 and 220 volts.
Conclusion
That concludes our discussion on how to jump starter solenoid. First, you have to find the starter solenoid in your vehicle.
Then there are multiple methods you can follow depending on your vehicle and the tools available to you.
Good luck! However, before I leave you can check an article on – whether you can use a jump starter while plugged in.
