Starting System — General Information and Precautions

General information

The starting system is designed to crank the engine at a speed sufficient to start it.

The system consists of a battery, a starter, a starter solenoid and wires connecting them. The solenoid is mounted directly on the starter.

The solenoid/starter assembly is mounted on the engine-rear, at the top of the engine, next to the transmission bell. When you turn the ignition key to position III, the starter solenoid receives power from the starter control circuit. The starter solenoid connects the battery to the starter. The battery powers the starter, which turns the engine over.

On models with automatic transmission, the starter can only be engaged when the selector is in position "R" or "N".

If the alarm system is activated or turned on, the starter cannot be turned on. The same applies to the engine immobilizer (in the presence of).

Precautionary measures

When servicing the starting system, always observe the following precautions:

• A) Running the starter for too long can cause it to overheat and cause damage. Never engage the starter for more than 15 seconds unless you pause (at least 8 minutes) to cool it down. Too long operation of the starter is also dangerous in that unburned fuel accumulates on the filament element of the catalytic converter, causing it to overheat at the time of starting the engine (chapter 6).
• b) The starter is directly connected to the battery and may spark if mishandled, overloaded or shorted.
• V) Always disconnect the negative battery cable before servicing the starting system (paragraph 1).