The starter motor(s) on this vehicle are non-repairable. It has 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 engine control module (ECM) sees an engine run flag, the ground is removed from the control circuit of the CRANK relay. The switch side of the CRANK 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.

When the ignition mode switch is placed in the START position, a discrete input is sent to the body control module (BCM) notifying it that engine start has been requested. The BCM then verifies that the brake pedal has been depressed with a discrete input from the brake pedal position sensor and that the key fob, with the correct code, is in the vehicle. After this information has been verified the BCM grounds the control side of the RUN/CRANK relay closing the switch side of it and allowing battery positive voltage to flow from the BATT 3 fuse through the RUN/CRANK relay switch, ECM fuse to the battery positive voltage side of the CRANK relay coil. The BCM also sends a high speed GMLAN message to the ECM requesting engine start. The ECM will then verify that the internal mode switch (IMS) is in Park / Neutral. After this has been verified the ECM grounds the control circuit of the CRANK relay closing the CRANK relay switch circuit and allowing battery positive voltage to flow through the STARTER fuse, the CRANK relay switch to the S terminal of the starter solenoid cranking the engine. Ground is supplied through the engine block.