The main components of a starter motor include the starter motor housing, starter relay, starter motor gear, soft iron core, two coils of wire, and four fields. When the ignition key switch is turned, the starter control circuit activates the starter relay, which connects the starter motor to the battery. The soft iron core is made of a laminated soft iron core, wrapped in two coils of wire, and contains teeth on the starter that mesh with the starter gear. When the starter motor turns, it pushes the starter gear forward to mesh with the teeth on the flywheel or flexplate and then turns the engine over, allowing the combustion process to begin.