The PG starter motors are non-repairable starter motor. They have pole pieces that are arranged around the armature. Both solenoid windings are energized. The pull-in winding circuit is completed to the ground through the starter motor. The windings work together magnetically to pull and hold in the plunger. The plunger moves the shift lever. This action causes the starter drive assembly to rotate on the armature shaft spline as it engages with the flywheel ring gear on the engine. Moving at the same time, the plunger also closes the solenoid switch contacts in the starter solenoid. Full battery voltage is applied directly to the starter motor and it cranks the engine.

As soon as the solenoid switch contacts close, current stops flowing thorough the pull-in winding because battery voltage is applied to both ends of the windings. The hold-in winding remains energized; its magnetic field is strong enough to hold the plunger, shift lever, starter drive assembly, and solenoid switch contacts in place to continue cranking the engine. When the engine starts, pinion overrun protects the armature from excessive speed until the switch is opened.

When the ignition switch is released from the START position, the START relay opens and battery voltage is removed from the starter solenoid S terminal. Current flows from the motor contacts through both windings to the ground at the end of the hold-in winding. However, the direction of the current flow through the pull-in winding is now opposite the direction of the current flow when the winding was first energized.

The magnetic fields of the pull-in and hold-in windings now oppose one another. This action of the windings, along with the help of the return spring, causes the starter drive assembly to disengage and the solenoid switch contacts to open simultaneously. As soon as the contacts open, the starter circuit is turned off.

Moving the ignition switch to the Start position sends a 12 volt signal through the Crank Signal BCM, Cluster fuse in the Fuse Block - I/P to the BCM, IPC, and PCM to notify these modules that a crank status has been requested. At the same time 12 volts is fed through the PCM BCM U/H Relay fuse in the Fuse Block - I/P to the coil side of the CRANK relay. The PCM grounds this circuit when all parameters are met for starting the engine. This closes the CRANK relay allowing Battery Positive voltage through the CRANK fuse and CRANK relay in the Fuse Block - Underhood then through the Park/Neutral Position Switch to the S terminal of the starter solenoid. Ground is found through the engine block.