Basic Guide to Bench Testing a Starter

Bench testing your starter is a great way to determine if there is a problem with the starter. It is a fairly simple procedure to do, especially if you already have the starter off the vehicle. This is an off-car test so you need to remove the starter from the vehicle. Before you go through the trouble of removing the starter, make sure that the battery is charged and working properly. If the battery is good and the vehicle still won’t start, you can use the following ways to determine if the starter is the problem:

1) Nothing happens when you turn the key to start the engine.
2) You turn the key and you hear one loud click and the engine still doesn’t start.

What You Will Need

• Battery Jumper Cables
• Jumper Wire
• Working Battery (Take one from a working vehicle if possible. Battery must have 12.5 volts. DO NOT use a jump box)
• Vise to Hold Starter (You can have someone hold the starter if you don’t have a vise)

Be sure that while you are testing the starter, that you keep any loose clothing, jewelry, or your fingers away from the pinion gear as it’s spins.

Bench Testing

Step One: Place your starter in the vise or have someone hold it carefully.

Step Two: Attach the negative (BLACK) battery cable to the to the negative terminal of the battery. The other end will need to be attached to the starter case.

Step Three: Attach the positive (RED) battery cable to the positive terminal on the battery. The other end needs to be attached to the stud on the starter solenoid.

Step Four: Attach one end of your jumper wire to the battery cable that you just attached to the starter solenoid.

Step Five: Touch the other end of the jumper wire to the S terminal on the starter solenoid.

Understanding the Results

You will get one of three results from your bench test.

1) The pinion gear will come out and spin fast. If this happens, then the starter is good.
2) The pinion gear will come out and spin very slowly. If this happens then there is something wrong with the starter.
3) Nothing happens and you hear a loud click. If this happens, then the starter is bad and needs to be replaced.