Most of the time, a starter’s motor and relay don’t just fail abruptly. These are some of the symptoms to look out for:

• The engine won’t turn over.  The most common signal that your starter has a problem is if nothing happens when you turn the key or push to start.  
• Unusual noises, such as clinking, grinding and whirring. If you ignore these sounds, it can eventually lead to damage to the engine flywheel.
• Intermittent problems starting the car. If you are starting your vehicle and the engine doesn’t ignite right away, and it works the second attempt, you are more than likely dealing with a problem with the starter relay.
• Smoke coming from under the hood. The starter is a mechanical system powered by electricity, which is prone to overheat. When the starter overheats, you will see or smell smoke coming from under the hood. 

If your car turns on but won’t start, turn on the dome light and watch it while you try to start the engine. If the light goes out, it’s a sign the battery is really weak—almost dead. To heat up the battery, terminals and starter, try the key cycling trick. The trick is to turn the key to the start position repeatedly about 10 times in a row. Stop and wait five minutes. Then try to start the engine. But if the dome light stayed bright when you turned the key, move on to the next trick if your car won’t start.