Abstract: A motor vehicle starter is controlled by a control device which cuts off the starter by measuring the power supply voltage of the starter and interrupting the power supply when that voltage reaches a threshold value. The threshold value is a function of the value of the power supply voltage measured at the inception of the starting operation.

Abstract: Starting power supply to starter windings is interrupted whenever a power contact for the starter is still open after a predetermined time delay from initiation of the power supply to the starter. The invention also provides apparatus for controlling a contactor of a motor vehicle starter, said contactor including at least one winding and a power contact which, on being closed, serves to supply power to the starter, the apparatus including circuitry detecting the open or closed state of the power contact and for interrupting or reducing starting power supply to the winding(s) in the event the power contact is still open at the end of a predetermined time delay from initiation of power supply to the starter.

Abstract: A motor vehicle starter head includes a starter pinion which slides axially on a starter head shaft, an actuator coupled with the pinion for axial movement with the latter, and abutment means for limiting the travel of the pinion in sliding movement with respect to the starter head shaft, at least towards its working position. The actuator has internal splines cooperating with external splines on the starter head shaft, and the abutment means comprise an abutment member which is coupled for axial movement with the actuator and which cooperates with a transverse flank of the external splines on the shaft.

Abstract: A starter for a motor vehicle, of the kind having a contactor provided with a movable contact able to be moved in translation between an idle position, in which the contact bears against a fixed conductive element and towards which it is forced by elastic return means, and an active position in which the movable contact establishes the electrical connection between a current input terminal, and a terminal supplying the starter motor, of the kind in which means are provided which, when the movable contact is in the idle position, enable an electrical contact to be established between the supply terminal and the electrical earth of the vehicle, the movable contact and the supply terminal being connected electrically by elastic return means made of a conductive material.

Abstract: A starter for a motor vehicle engine is equipped with a device for cutting off the operation of the starter as soon as the engine is running by itself. The device detects the voltage or current waves in the power supply to the starter, and stops the starter when these waves disappear. At each new wave in the power supply signal, a monitoring period is generated, having a duration which decreases as the frequency of the waves increases, the starter being stopped when no new wave is detected in the last monitoring period.