Your Oldsmobile starter technology has not changed much in the last 100 years. The first patent for an electrical engine starter was issued in 1903, as a solution to the aggravation of hand-cranking motor engines to life. By 1920, the self-starter was standard equipment in most new cars. An Oldsmobile starter is made up of a very powerful DC electric motor and starter solenoid that is attached to the motor. It is attached to the battery with large cables, because it requires very high current to crank the engine. A car starter motor uses 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. Some improvements have been made to the starter, such as gear-reduction models that are lighter and use less current to start. Your Oldsmobile starter should last at least 50,000 miles. When it is time to replace it, order your Oldsmobile starter here and do the job yourself... save yourself money in parts and labor instead of paying a dealership to do the job!