The starter wakes up your car. The work of the starter system begins with the placing of the ignition key into the ignition switch (which is usually located next to the steering column) and turning it to switch on the ignition.

Turning this key connects up the power from the battery to what is called the solenoid. The solenoid is a switch (rather in the same way that a light switch lets the electricity through to a light). The solenoid allows electricity to move through to the starter and wakes it up with a jolt.

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The starter is simply a big electric motor, which has a small gear at one end. This gear is connected by a shaft to a bigger gear (called the "flywheel") at the back of the engine. The flywheel is attached to the big shaft that cranks the engine (called the crankshaft, of course). The crankshaft turns and this pushes the pistons up and down. The starter motor spins at such a high rate of speed that it has the power to "crank over" the engine and give it an initial start.

Okay, let's go over that again:

1. You put the key in the switch.

2. You turn the key.

3. This connects the electrical flow from the battery to the solenoid (switch).

4. The solenoid lets the electricity through to the starter motor.

5. The starter motor, by turning a gear at the back of the engine, gives the engine a quick and sudden burst of power that gets the engine running.

Now go to your car and see if you can locate the solenoid, the starter motor, the battery, and the engine. Turn on the car. Can you hear the pistons going up and down? (If you can't find these things, get a friend who is familiar with automobile engines to help you).