Your Buick starter is a basic motor with a design that has not changed much in the last 100 years - although a few more extra gadgets have been added for modern automobile engines. In simplest terms, a starter is an electric motor that is used to 'turn over' the car's engine and start it. A Buick starter is made up of a very powerful DC electric motor and starter solenoid or relay that is attached to the motor. It is attached to the battery with large cables, because it requires very high current levels to crank the engine. Some starter motors use a solenoid to solve this issue of requiring large amounts of electricity to start the engine running. The starter solenoid works as an electric switch - when it is activated, it closes a circuit and connects the starter motor to the battery. At the same time, it pushes the starter gear forward to mesh with the engine's flywheel. Over time, different kinds of starters have developed, such as gear-reduction and permanent-magnet types. Buick has added a lot more improvements to this basic design to the Buick starter, enabling you to enjoy peace of mind - and confidence when you start your car up on wintry mornings.