A starter for an internal combustion engine includes an electric motor and a solenoid switch. The solenoid switch includes a housing, a fixed core, a movable core, two spaced contacts, and a conductive member arranged to interconnect the contacts when the solenoid is turned on. The movable core is connected to a pinion of the motor which is movable to engage with a flywheel of the engine. The fixed core includes a pull-in coil of aluminum wire, a holding coil of copper wire, and a magnetic core. The motor is connected in series with the pull-in coil. When the solenoid is energized, the coils generate a magnetic field that attracts the movable core to the magnetic core, thereby the moving the pinion into engagement with the flywheel and causing the conductive member to interconnect the contacts.