Starter motors
Generator Starter Motor Repairs
The starter is the motor that should turn the engine when a start is allowed. A click, a slow crank or no crank at all can be that motor, and it can just as easily be the battery, a cable, an earth or the signal that never reached the solenoid. A click is not proof the starter has failed.
- Click is not a diagnosis
- Battery checked first
- Solenoid separated from the motor
- Onsite across Gauteng
Crank or no crank
How do I know if a generator starter motor is faulty?
You do not, from the sound alone. A single click often means the solenoid is trying and the motor is not turning the ring gear. Possible causes include a flat battery, burnt contacts, a solenoid that will not hold, a cable or earth fault, a damaged starter, or a control signal that is too weak.
A starter that spins without turning the engine is a different fault from one that does not spin at all. Slow cranking can be the battery under load, or a starter that is dragging. Those are separated with a voltage reading while it cranks, not by replacing the motor first.
Jumping the starter terminals is not a customer test. The circuit is proved from the battery positive, through the solenoid, to a clean earth, with the control signal checked only when that is safe to do.
The starting circuit
Why does my generator click but not crank?
Generator clicks but will not crank
The click can be the solenoid, a relay, or a battery that collapses as soon as the starter is asked to pull current. The voltage during that click decides the next step.
Generator cranks slowly
A tired battery, poor cables and a dragging starter all sound similar. Current and voltage under crank separate them.
Starter solenoid problems
The solenoid can click, weld, or fail to pass current into the motor. It is not automatically a new starter motor.
Battery versus starter motor fault
If the battery voltage falls away under crank, the charging and battery pages come first. A starter is condemned when the supply at the motor is healthy and it still will not turn the engine.
Starter wiring and earth problems
A corroded earth or a heat-damaged cable can leave a good starter silent. Those joints are inspected before the motor is removed.
When does a starter motor need repair or replacement?
When the tests show the motor or its drive is the failed part: burnt contacts, a dead winding, or a drive that spins free. Intermittent faults are repeated rather than guessed.
Google reviews of ProService Generator Repairs
Google Review
Our primary generator just clicked and refused to crank. The technician traced the electrical path and found a heavily corroded earth strap, replacing it with heavy-duty cabling to solve the issue.
Google Review
Our Doosan generator runs smoothly thanks to their strict preventative maintenance schedule. They recently swapped out a faulty starter motor with incredible speed.
Common Questions
Questions about generator starter motors
Why does my generator click but not crank?
The start circuit is closing, and the engine is not turning. Possible causes include the battery, the solenoid, the cables and the starter motor itself.
Is every click a bad starter?
No. A collapsing battery or a bad earth clicks in the same way. Voltage during the click is the split.
The starter spins but the engine does not turn. What is that?
The motor is running and the drive is not engaging the engine. That is a different fault from no crank at all.
It cranks slowly. Should the starter be replaced?
Not from the sound. Slow cranking is tested against battery voltage and the cables first.
Can the controller stop the starter?
Yes. If the start signal never reaches the solenoid, the motor is not the first part to change. That signal is part of the circuit test.
Can I bridge the starter to test it?
No. Bridging starter terminals is a live high-current test and is not a home check.
How is the starting circuit tested?
Battery voltage, the drop while cranking, the earth path, the solenoid and the control signal are checked in that order.
Still unsure what the fault is? Call or WhatsApp 082 057 4605 for onsite diagnosis.
Service Areas
Onsite visits across Gauteng
Technicians travel to the generator. These are the main Gauteng areas. Suburb pages sit under each region.
What to send before we attend
ProService Generator Repairs confirms an onsite visit from these details. Send what you have. A missing model number does not stop the booking.
- Location
- The suburb or site, so the visit can be booked in the right area.
- Make and model
- The generator brand and model, if they are known.
- kVA
- The size printed on the data plate.
- Fuel type
- Diesel, petrol, LPG, natural gas, or dual-fuel.
- Controller model
- The module name on the panel, when it is visible.
- Fault or alarm
- What the set does, and any text on the screen.
- Photos
- The generator, the data plate, and the controller or alarm. Send these on WhatsApp.
Book a Visit
Describe the sound
A click, a slow turn, a free-spinning starter, or nothing at all. Say whether a jump-start changes it.
- Call
- 082 057 4605
- Message us on WhatsApp