Starting System - Starter Motor
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Ford Mustang. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The starter motor is a 12-volt unit that has the starter solenoid mounted on the drive end housing and functions as follows:
- The current flows through the solenoid energizing coil until the solenoid plunger is at the end of its travel.
- The plunger closes a set of contacts that bypass the energizing coil, letting the holding coil engage the starter drive and pass starting current to the starter motor.
- The motor is energized when the starter solenoid contacts are closed.
- The starter drive engages the flywheel ring gear and starts the engine.
- An overrunning clutch in the starter drive protects the starter motor from excessive speed when the engine starts.