What This Video Covers

The electric starter and the engine's one-way starter clutch are separate parts of the starting system. Similar symptoms can require different repairs, so the complaint should be diagnosed before either component is replaced.

• Identify the starter and one-way clutch as separate components.
• Recognize that similar starting symptoms may have different causes.
• Use the observed symptom and proper testing to narrow the problem before ordering parts.

Diagnostic Direction

Record exactly what the machine does when the start command is given: no response, an electrical click, starter rotation, unusual mechanical noise, or engine cranking without starting. Test the battery, connections, starter circuit, and mechanical engagement as appropriate before deciding which component has failed.