Do ISG Starters Wear More Quickly?

How Do ISG Vehicles Minimize Starter Wear?

• The gear ratio from the starter-drive pinion to the flywheel ring gear is optimized to make the starter’s motor turn more slowly. This can be done without changing the design of the transmission or flywheel.
• The composition of the carbon and copper brushes on a ISG motor differs from its traditional counterparts to increase longevity without accelerating wear on the commutator. Also, rather than relying on oil-impregnated bushings for the rotating assemblies, start-stop starters mostly use needle bearings.
• The solenoid on ISG starters decouples the mechanical action of engaging the drive pinion into the flywheel from the electrical action of stopping and starting the motor. This allows for a dedicated design to turn power on and off to the motor, optimizing contact design and wear. These contacts must be integrated as part of a spring-loaded plunger. This also reduces the electrical load required to turn the engine, so that there is enough current available for accessories/lighting to operate during the start event.
• Finally, ISG-equipped vehicles are integrated with other technologies that identify when each cylinder of the engine will reach top-dead center. This lets the fuel injectors pulse and fire during the middle of a complete rotation of the crank, instead of having to wait for a complete revolution to start the fuel-spark timing sequence.

If your customers are concerned about the wear on their starter, you can share the details above with them. But, if customers are unhappy with the feature, you can also show them where to turn the feature off. An example is shown below in the image but be sure to check the specific vehicle’s owner’s manual to locate the button or setting.

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