Starter Motor & Alternator
AKA 'Spinny Zappy Things' — One makes it start, one keeps it going. Both important.
Won't start? Battery keeps dying? Electrical gremlins? We replace starter motors, alternators, and the bits that keep your car's electrical system alive.
See our upfront pricingQuick Facts
What's This All About Then?
Two components that seem boring until they fail. The starter motor gets your engine turning. The alternator keeps your battery charged while driving. When the starter fails, you're stranded. When the alternator fails, your battery slowly dies and eventually you're stranded. Both are commonly replaced roadside because that's usually where you discover the problem. We diagnose properly - sometimes a 'dead starter' is actually a bad connection, and sometimes a 'dead alternator' is actually a worn belt. Proper diagnosis means paying for what you actually need, not what might be wrong.
How it works
When you turn the key or press start, battery power feeds the starter motor — a heavy-duty electric motor that meshes a small gear into the engine's flywheel and cranks it over until it fires. That's a huge one-off current draw. Once the engine runs, the starter drops out and the alternator takes over: it's a generator spun by the auxiliary belt, turning engine rotation into electricity. It tops up the battery and powers everything — lights, ignition, ECU, heated seats. If the alternator quits, the car runs on battery alone until it's flat. So one gets you started; the other keeps you going.
Warning signs to watch for
- •A single loud click, or rapid clicking, when you turn the key — but the engine won't crank (classic starter or battery)
- •Dashboard lights and radio work fine, yet nothing happens on cranking
- •Battery warning light glowing while driving (alternator charging fault)
- •Headlights dimming or flickering, especially at idle or with the heater on
- •Car starts fine but dies shortly after, or slowly loses power as it drains the battery
- •A whining or grinding noise, or a hot-electrical smell from the belt area
Common causes
What we do
We test the whole charging and starting circuit before condemning anything — battery health, voltage under load, alternator output, belt condition and the earth connections. That tells us whether it's really the starter, the alternator, the battery, or just a dirty terminal. You get a clear itemised quote before we touch a spanner, then we fit quality parts and re-test. We come to you — driveway, car park or roadside — so there's no risky tow to a garage.
Starter Motor & Alternator — FAQs
Is it my starter or just a flat battery?
They feel similar, but there's a tell. A flat battery usually leaves dashboard lights dim or dead and gives slow, laboured cranking. A dead starter often leaves the lights bright and the radio working, yet you get a single click or nothing when you turn the key. A proper load test settles it in minutes, which is exactly what we do first.
Can I drive with the battery warning light on?
Only briefly, and it's a gamble. That light usually means the alternator has stopped charging, so you're running purely on battery reserve. Once it's flat — often within 20–40 minutes — the engine cuts out and won't restart. Switch off heaters, wipers and rear demist to save power, and get it looked at straight away rather than risk stopping in traffic.
Can you replace a starter or alternator on my driveway?
In most cases, yes. Both are common mobile jobs and we carry the tools to do them where your car sits. Access varies by model — some are quick, others need components moved aside — but we'll confirm the job and give you a fixed price before starting. That saves you a recovery truck and a garage waiting room.
What You Actually Get
Common Starter Motor & Alternator Faults We Fix
Random Knowledge You Didn't Ask For
Your starter motor draws up to 400 amps for a few seconds. That's enough to power a small house.
A failing alternator can cause weird electrical issues before it dies completely. Trust nothing.
Why Get Your Starter Motor & Alternator Done By Us?
We're Quick
Fast response, efficient work. No dragging things out.
We Come To You
Your driveway, your office, wherever. We travel.
We Guarantee It
If we mess up, we fix it. Simple as that.
Ready for Starter Motor & Alternator?
That thing's not going to fix itself. We've checked.