A starter in a car is a small motor that is powered by the battery and is responsible for turning over the engine to initiate the combustion cycle and start running on its own power). The starter has a small starting gear that engages the engines flywheel when you turn the key or press the engine start button, and then it delivers power, getting the engine rotating. The flywheel is considered one of the most essential parts of any engine, and without it, the engine simply cant get started. The starter motor consists of two main components: the solenoid and the electric motor part that actually turns the gear to crank the engine. The solenoid is responsible for pushing and pulling the gear out to engage with the flex plate or the flywheel. If the starter itself goes bad due to a bad electrical connection or a malfunctioning solenoid, then the car wont start.