Starter Motor (1999-2006): Design: Principle
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 8 other vehicles, including the 2006 Volvo S80, 2005 Volvo S80, 2004 Volvo S80, 2003 Volvo S80, and 2002 Volvo S80. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The starter motor is a DC motor which uses a permanent magnet. This type of motor operates following the principle that the same poles (North/North) are forced away from each other and opposite poles (North/South) are drawn to each other.