Is it possible for your starter motor to blow whilst the car is moving?

Question

The garage carried out recall repairs on the oil switch on Friday, then, whilst driving the car on Saturday, warning lights appeared, smoke started coming from engine and the car cut out. The garage is insisting this is completely coincidental and its the starter motor that's blow. (£300) Is it even possible for the starter motor to go whilst I'm driving the car. Never had any problems before (either starting or whilst moving!) Thanks

Answer 1

Yes it is. If the bendix didn't disengage from the ring gear when you started the car, then it would be run like a "generator" as you drive along, where the engine would be turning the starter instead of the other way around. This would definitely toast your starter. If this had been caused by the solenoid contacts remaining "stuck" then a lot of electrical damage could also have been caused. It is possible that incorrect rewiring of the oil switch might have caused this.

Answer 2

It sounds like the oil pressure sender came loose, the oil level dropped and the E.M.U. stopped the engine to prevent damage.

The only way for the starter motor to be damaged by the car moving is if it didn't disengage after the car started. You wouldn't have gotten too far, the noise from that would have been more than enough to make you stop the engine I'm sure.

It sounds like the workshop fu.cked up, and is trying to cover their ars.es. Have someone else check it out, and if the workshop is lying, report them to the proper authorities, because that's fraud.

Answer 3

Yes, it is possible. When you start your car, a solenoid engages, pushing a gear inline with your engine's flywheel. The starter motor turns the flywheel which turns over your engine enabling it to start.  When you release the ignition key, the solenoid should pull the gear back away from the flywheel. If for some reason this doesn't happen, your car's engine, now running, will turn the starter motor at speeds it was never intended to turn, causing it to overheat and burn up.

Answer 4

yes...it happened...i was driving [no shop involved] and the starter engagued  just like i turned the key...it burned up in 20 secounds and stopped me dead... a new starter and i was good to go,,

Answer 5

no